Illinois becomes 16th state to ban death penalty

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

that sucks

I think we should kill a lot of people. 1st degree murders & 1st degree sex criminals... If the DNA is there, off with your head.

A hot button issue of course...since Capital Punishment was reintroduced in the US in 1977, 15 people have been executed (none since 1999) in Illinois. During that time, 20 people have been released from prison as new evidence proved they were wrongly convicted. Two thirds of the nations on earth have banned the death penalty.

[Indian Charlie]

The only people the death penalty should be applicable for are politicians, the people who control politicians, and assholes like the ones that let the whole gulf oil spill happen.

Them, and maybe that Zen-yatt-ah chanter in that video from TVG.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

A hot button issue of course...since Capital Punishment was reintroduced in the US in 1977, 15 people have been executed (none since 1999) in Illinois. During that time, 20 people have been released from prison as new evidence proved they were wrongly convicted. Two thirds of the nations on earth have banned the death penalty.

I put a lot of faith in DNA evidence. I dont think people should get executed for he said / she said evidence.

I DO think that people like OJ Simpson should be executed. and the appeal time and costs need to be lowered. a bullet should do the trick.

[Antitrust32]

honestly, cold blooded killers and people who rape kids dont deserve the use of oxygen.

[dellinger63]

But such feelings were not shared by Rachel Williams, who still has bullet fragments in her skull from the night in 1996 when Daniel Ramsey shot her in the head, killed her 12-year-old sister, raped and killed her best friend, and wounded two toddlers.

Williams was so determined to see her former boyfriend receive the death penalty that she relived the gruesome details of the shooting before a jury twice — the second time after the Illinois Supreme Court ordered a new trial. On Wednesday, Williams said she was reliving that night all over again, knowing that Ramsey's life would be spared while her sister's was not.

"Nobody knows what it's like to hear your sister say, 'Don't shoot me,'" said Williams, 32, of Peoria. "Why should he be able to sit there in prison until he turns over and dies? It's not fair."

But Roger Schnorr, whose sister, Donna, 27, of Geneva, was abducted, raped and murdered by Dugan in 1984, called Quinn's decision "quite aggravating." Schnorr said he met with Quinn for two hours a few weeks ago — along with prosecutors and other victims' relatives — and said the governor seemed "quite uninformed."

"There are 15 guys who are celebrating in prison today," Nicarico said. "And all of them took a life, at least one, and some took more than one. What Gov. Quinn did is he gave them their lives back."


Gov. Quinn owes every family suffering and now suffering more an apology. Maybe he can invite the group of 15 over to his house and feed and shelter them. IDIOT!!!!

[GBBob]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

But such feelings were not shared by Rachel Williams, who still has bullet fragments in her skull from the night in 1996 when Daniel Ramsey shot her in the head, killed her 12-year-old sister, raped and killed her best friend, and wounded two toddlers.

Williams was so determined to see her former boyfriend receive the death penalty that she relived the gruesome details of the shooting before a jury twice — the second time after the Illinois Supreme Court ordered a new trial. On Wednesday, Williams said she was reliving that night all over again, knowing that Ramsey's life would be spared while her sister's was not.

"Nobody knows what it's like to hear your sister say, 'Don't shoot me,'" said Williams, 32, of Peoria. "Why should he be able to sit there in prison until he turns over and dies? It's not fair."

But Roger Schnorr, whose sister, Donna, 27, of Geneva, was abducted, raped and murdered by Dugan in 1984, called Quinn's decision "quite aggravating." Schnorr said he met with Quinn for two hours a few weeks ago — along with prosecutors and other victims' relatives — and said the governor seemed "quite uninformed."

"There are 15 guys who are celebrating in prison today," Nicarico said. "And all of them took a life, at least one, and some took more than one. What Gov. Quinn did is he gave them their lives back."


Gov. Quinn owes every family suffering and now suffering more an apology. Maybe he can invite the group of 15 over to his house and feed and shelter them. IDIOT!!!!

I bet there are quite a few on death row who hope their sentence DOESN'T get changed to life. Much worse in my mind and much more of a punishment than death.

[somerfrost]

Always an emotional issue and it's hard to say that some folks don't deserve being put down as their actions make them monsters but there are two major issues: first, there are people on death row who are innocent, the justice system makes mistakes and usually, the more resources a defendant has, the better his chance of a fair deal. DNA and other advances may help level the playing field but still, many people are convicted of terrible crimes on evidence that is questionable. Secondly...what exactly is the reason to take a life? Is it justice or revenge? That is where emotion comes in....and it's an individual point of view. If you are the victim of a violent crime or have lost a friend or relative to a savage attack, nobody can blame you for wanting to see the perp punished. Does seeing someone put to death help you heal, to move on? That seems to depend on the individual. Does the death penalty deter future violent crimes...well, to be sure the person being put to death won't re-offend but does it really effect the behavior of others? Most violent crimes are either acts of passion or cold, calculated, planned in advance acts...it is doubtful that in either case being caught is paramount in the perp's mind. And even if it is...is it moral to kill a person to effect another person's acts? Difficult questions and the answer differs from person to person.

[Princess Doreen]

If life without parole is a reality, then I believe the death penalty should be done away with. Life behind bars without the prospect of freedom? To me, that's a fate worse than death.

The legal process before someone actually gets put to death costs many times more than it does to lock that person up and throw away the key.

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

But Roger Schnorr, whose sister, Donna, 27, of Geneva, was abducted, raped and murdered by Dugan in 1984, called Quinn's decision "quite aggravating." Schnorr said he met with Quinn for two hours a few weeks ago — along with prosecutors and other victims' relatives — and said the governor seemed "quite uninformed."
!

Quinn and Ryan appear to be equally inept but what else would one expect out of IL politics. What other Gov. can claim fame to indirectly causing a family to burn alive and then let off the State's worse murderers before going to jail himself. And that fossil of a wife he has, who was supposed to die months ago is still alive and now home? Let Ryan do every last hour of his sentence and add on the time he was allowed to visit his dying wife! Maybe a transfer to the IL State system and allowing him to be a cellie of each of the murderers he let off death row would be good for all involved.

http://www.suntimes.com/4512063-417/...erstand-pardon

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

honestly, cold blooded killers and people who rape kids dont deserve the use of oxygen.

The major problem is that - even today - people are sometimes wrongfully convicted of these crimes. There have been a lot of strange cases where new evidence emerges ten or more years down the road that exonerates a person who has been convicted. If you sentence a person to life in prison, and then some case takes an odd twist at some future date, the person might still have a chance to enjoy some part of their remaining life. Once they're executed, however, its obviously too late.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by miraja2

The major problem is that - even today - people are sometimes wrongfully convicted of these crimes. There have been a lot of strange cases where new evidence emerges ten or more years down the road that exonerates a person who has been convicted. If you sentence a person to life in prison, and then some case takes an odd twist at some future date, the person might still have a chance to enjoy some part of their remaining life. Once they're executed, however, its obviously too late.

thats why I put a lot of weight on DNA evidence. I have no problem executing these monsters when the DNA evidence is there.

IMO, DNA makes a big difference in wrongful convictions, I could see where the were more prevelent back 20 years, even 10 years ago. I'm sure there are still wrongful convictions... but if the DNA is there, go for the execution.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

thats why I put a lot of weight on DNA evidence. I have no problem executing these monsters when the DNA evidence is there.

IMO, DNA makes a big difference in wrongful convictions, I could see where the were more prevelent back 20 years, even 10 years ago. I'm sure there are still wrongful convictions... but if the DNA is there, go for the execution.

I understand the power of DNA evidence but I question how often it is the determining factor in capital offenses, many times there is no DNA evidence or it is inconclusive. I watch the virtual explosion in science in the last 20 years or so and have to wonder....10-20 years from now, what new techniques will have been developed? Yesterday's science fiction is today's science. Will, for example, we be able to examine the optic nerves of murder victims and be able to produce images of their last minutes? If so, how many murderers will that convict and how many innocent folks could that technology clear?

[dellinger63]

I would imagine someone, somewhere has already 'planted' DNA evidence as a safeguard. But when you review the case details of those who Quinn let off death row there really is no question of guilt DNA or not.

And the thought of life in prison being worse than the death penalty is ludicrous. I'll wager not a single one of the 16 let off will commit suicide and far more appeal the death sentence rather than waive rights and quicken the process.

[joeydb]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

thats why I put a lot of weight on DNA evidence. I have no problem executing these monsters when the DNA evidence is there.

IMO, DNA makes a big difference in wrongful convictions, I could see where the were more prevelent back 20 years, even 10 years ago. I'm sure there are still wrongful convictions... but if the DNA is there, go for the execution.

Interesting. DNA evidence is also why I'm opposed to abortion. See the other thread if you are curious.

And I'm all for using the DNA evidence in capital cases to make absolutely certain that no innocent people are executed.

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by joeydb

And I'm all for using the DNA evidence in capital cases to make absolutely certain that no innocent people are executed.

Not if your barber whacked someone and left a few of your hairs (the ones he pulled off combing your hair) at the scene.