Emptying of death row in Illinois stirs outrage

The Knox News Sentinel ^ | 1/12/03 | Don Babwin/AP

[hoosierskypilot]

".."Because the Illinois death penalty system is arbitrary and capricious - and therefore immoral - I no longer shall tinker with the machinery of death," he said."

Interesting summation. Since the "death penalty system" is part of their judicial system, Ryan's action is a scathing indictment of Illinois law and order. Either that or Ryan is stone nuts.

[GailA]

He's mental is all I can say, looney.

The Bible on the DP

Resource

Resource 2

[GailA]

I call it the INJUSTICE system. We didn't receive real justice. Most other cases similar to ours the creep got 30 years in their plea bargains. Now he will walk the streets again, with a 5th grade education as he has REFUSED to to attend any education classes.

[mvpel]

What are the benefits of killing someone in the name of the Almighty State versus sentencing them to life in prison without the possibility of parole?

[Kevin Curry]

What are the benefits of killing a person in a drug heist, or for a wallet, or just for the thrill of it?

You'll have plenty of time to find out now that Ryan has granted the perps a chance at life that they denied their victims. Go pick their brains as they lounge around at taxpayer expense, getting three squares a day, free medical care, access to weight rooms, cable TV etc.

[mvpel]

What are the benefits of killing a person in a drug heist, or for a wallet, or just for the thrill of it?

Again there's that parallel drawn between killing perpetrated by the government in the name of the Almighty State and killing perpetrated by murderous criminals in the name of evil. First Barnacle, and now you too.

If you object to the prison conditions that murderers are subjected to, that's fine, but it's not germane to the question of whether or not they should be killed as the ultimate expression of government force.

You raise "taxpayer expense," but I think it's been fairly well established that providing due process in death penalty cases costs more than warehousing murderers for the rest of their lives.

Some might argue that they get too many costly appeals, but lack of due process, judicial abuses, and corner-cutting is exactly what scuttled the Illinois death penalty.

[185JHP]

If the fear of death has no deterrent effect, why would Mafia thugs enter the Witness Security Program?

[mvpel]

If the fear of death has no deterrent effect, why would Mafia thugs enter the Witness Security Program? The Almighty State does not carry out its executions summarily and immediately including an element of surprise and sadism, unlike the Mafia.

[Charles Henrickson]

Shaming Governor Ryan (Caption these pics)

[supercat]

Some might argue that they get too many costly appeals, but lack of due process, judicial abuses, and corner-cutting is exactly what scuttled the Illinois death penalty.

Do the extra appeals have any useful function at acquitting those who turn out to be innocent?

If so, why are they not made available to those "merely" sentenced to life in prison, whose guilt is presumably less certain?

And if not, why bother with them at all?

[Barnacle]

What are the benefits of killing someone in the name of the Almighty State versus sentencing them to life in prison without the possibility of parole?

Almighty state? How about in the name of justice?

First, I believe those who are tried, convicted and sentenced to death under our judicial system have been given justice. There are exceptions, but you should not make laws based on exceptions to the rule. Further, provides justice for the victim of the murderer and his survivors.

Here’s an idea for you, why don’t you pose your question, face to face, to the survivors of the murder victims now that Gov. Ryan just took their murderess off death row? I’m sure you’d find some of them happy to talk to you.

Second, I’d rather see the limited resources of our taxpayer supported Government (and yes, contrary to popular belief, resources are limited) go toward training a doctor or preserving a natural area than keeping a vile and evil creature behind bars.

Third, contrary to what you probably believe, the death penalty is a deterrent to murder. If you have any doubt, look at this easy to understand graph. If you can’t see a cause and effect relationship, look at it again.

If you still can’t see a cause and effect relationship, look at it again.

Those murderers don’t want to die. The threat of death is all that keeps many from carrying out their heinous imaginings. In Illinois the worse they can now expect is three square meals a day in a climate-controlled environment, access to weight training and a library and television entertainment. They can even get illegal drugs behind bars.

There are cretins living such a miserable existence on the streets, they’d be happy to commit a crime just to get those benefits.

But, they don’t want to die.

Forth, I am subject to the same laws that I advocate applied to others. I’ll gladly take my chances of wrongful conviction as an individual, so that justice will be served for the many.

Now, if you’re going to try the old, “But, if it will save just one child.” logic. Save it. That logic (or lack there of) doesn’t work on me. When you’re saying, “But, if it will save just one brutal murderer.” It has even less appeal.

Here’s an idea, rather than make all of us pay to keep those animals alive, why don’t you start a volunteer fund for people who think like youYou can promote it like a membership to a local zoo. That way, you take the $30,000 per year burden of incarcerating a maximum-security prisoner off the backs of taxpayers.

Your friends can sponsor the brutal murderer of their choice. And, as long as they keep sending checks, he stays alive. Priority members even get visitation rights. You can get all warm and fuzzy with him. Become good friends, and he might even show you how to kill a man with a folded piece of paper.

Come on, you’ve got nothing to lose with your “morally superior” attitude. Put you money where your mouth is.

[Kevin Curry]

Of course, the only murderer that can't commit another is a dead one.

Jack Abbott comes to mind.

After the second murder, the leftist agitator and sometimes writer Norman Mailer should have been sent to prison with him.

[mikeb704]

Good riddance, George. Don’t let the door hit you.

[Semaphore Heathcliffe]

Mike Savage is floating the theory that Ryan did this to ingratiate himself to potential jurors in upcoming proceedings against Ryan himself.

[kidd]

I am generally against the death penalty - except for the case where an inmate cannot be controlled by the prison system. I wonder how many of these former death row inmates have committed murder in prison? How many of them have escaped or attempted escape from prison?

I think that it was irresponsible for Ryan to commute all sentences. He has put the prison population and guards at risk.

[GailA]

You will probably find your answer HERE it is the BJS recidivisim report 68% re-offend.

[WRhine]

Yes, that chart says it all Barnacle. Excellent post. I agree with those that say the motivation behind Ryan emptying death row was to generate some jury/media sympathy for him when he is put on trial for the licenses for bribes scandal. Ryan is truly the republican version of Bill Clinton. A person completely devoid of character; a criminal through and through.

Regarding the controversy surrounding the death penalty, much like the issue of abortion, this will be a contentious issue for many years to come. And it doesn't help that there is a certain political dynamic involved. Sigh, well, you know what I'm talking about...I'm talking about peeplow.

[185JHP]

Excellence in posting. Most criminals don't want to die - it's why beasts like the Gravano enter Witness Protection - they don't want other criminals to whack them!

[Barnacle]

Thanks. I appreciate it. You know, it sometimes feels that I’m sailing up-river on this site.

As to your point; an hour ago on TV, there was an interview with the Prison Chaplain of Sing Sing. He said the toughest prison thugs always fall to pieces on their final march to the death chamber.

[Barnacle]

Yeah, I know what you’re talking about. LOL LOL LOL

SOS I can’t stop LOL