Recently, Ronnie Lee Gardner was executed by the state of Utah. This caused me to lose about 1/2 of a microsecond of sleep. He killed an attorney during an escape attempt, so I'm not sure if he should've been convicted or awarded a medal, but that doesn't matter now. What gets me is WHEN Mr. Gardner did this. In 1985. Nineteen Eighty Friggin Five. 25 years ago.
That's my problem with the death penalty. Why does it take 25 years to carry out a sentence? Is our court system that sclerotic?Anti-death penalty people say capital punishment is no deterrent, and they're right. Any sentence deferred for 25 years has long lost any deterrent value.
I think the death penalty is a fantastic idea...but we need to do 3 things with it...
1. Make SURE the person is guilty. The standard for conviction is "beyond a reasonable doubt". Fine...but to execute someone it should be raised to "beyond practically any doubt" or "Only a friggin' idiot would think this guy is innocent." Require DNA evidence if available.
2. Streamline the system. Set an execution date at sentencing that's no more than 6 months away. You get one appeal. Thats it. If you don't bring up your bullshit legal technicality at the appeal, too bad. Death penalty appeals should go to the front of the line. Now THAT is a deterrent.
3. Carry executions live on pay per view TV. Seriously. Charge $4.99 with proceeds going to the families of the victim.
Lastly, why do infamous criminals always seem to have 3 names? Except for Manson they all seem to...
I think the death penalty is a fantastic idea...but we need to do 3 things with it...
1. Make SURE the person is guilty. The standard for conviction is "beyond a reasonable doubt". Fine...but to execute someone it should be raised to "beyond practically any doubt" or "Only a friggin' idiot would think this guy is innocent." Require DNA evidence if available.
2. Streamline the system. Set an execution date at sentencing that's no more than 6 months away. You get one appeal. Thats it. If you don't bring up your bullshit legal technicality at the appeal, too bad. Death penalty appeals should go to the front of the line. Now THAT is a deterrent.
3. Carry executions live on pay per view TV. Seriously. Charge $4.99 with proceeds going to the families of the victim.
Lastly, why do infamous criminals always seem to have 3 names? Except for Manson they all seem to...
