Juvenile death penalty unconstitutional

[strandinthewind]

Here is her history on the DP

http://www.issues2000.org/Court/Sand...nnor_Crime.htm

[strandinthewind]

Here is the decision

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2...pdf/03-633.pdf

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by Lux

My god, 5-4? That is very scary that anyone would contemplate voting for that. I just assumed that even with conservatives, there's a point where compassion kicks in.

You assume too much on that one

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

You assume too much on that one

Well, the facts of this case made the defendant easy to hate and made the "I am just a minor who did not know what he was doing" defense a little hard to swallow. This guy planned to execute his neighbor, with whom he had a previous altercation, by convincing two of his friends to break into her house, kidnap her, duct tape her, rough her up, and then put her in a bad and throw her over a bridge - all out of petty spite. Then, he bragged the next day about what he had done. It is hard to feel sorry for anyone who would do that Does that mean they should be put to death - well there is the rub.

Personally, I think this strengthens the DP from now on because it will apply only to adults, where most, right or wrong, are comfortable with it.

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

My best friend did a presentation in one of her classes about how barbaric it is to execute minors, and it's sad how she was met with strong opposition. I just don't get it. Thanks for posting that; I'm glad to see the verdict. Too bad that it was 5-4.

I don't think it's sad she was met with oppostion. What's wrong with killing two 16 year olds who did a school shooting.

[Moony]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

..
I don't think it's sad she was met with oppostion. What's wrong with killing two 16 year olds who did a school shooting.

...
I just think the death penalty is disgusting. Period. Especially when it comes to juveniles.

[Hawkeye]

you people act like this is a bunch of little children being executed or something. Think columbine kids if they hadn't already executed themselves

[Moony]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

you people act like this is a bunch of little children being executed or something. Think columbine kids if they hadn't already executed themselves

...yes, a real laughing matter....

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

you people act like this is a bunch of little children being executed or something. Think columbine kids if they hadn't already executed themselves

You know how I feel about this. And of course I feel strongly about it if it's young people being executed. And the kids who shot people at Columbine High were still young. I do think it's a shame and sad that my friend was met with such strong opposition when presenting her research and opinion because I hate how primitive our society is. I think it's sad that so many of our citizens are so narrow-minded and conventional to a degree that is horrifying. Whether you like it or not, Lux and others will tell you that we're the only supposedly "progressive" country that has not abolished the death penalty. The only thing worse than that to me is the idea that we could execute minors. It's hard for me to tolerate such a notion.

And, as Danny said, it's quite a laughing matter.

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by Moony

...yes, a real laughing matter....

My thoughts exactly. How is that funny? It's just tragic.

I do believe that even some minors who have committed murder can not be rehabilitated. The ones that are more sociopathic can get life without parole. For some minors that is not too severe a sentence. I don't see the need for the DP ever.

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

My thoughts exactly. How is that funny? It's just tragic

I said how can you not want the columbine kids executed and then I thought it was funny that they executed themselves first.

[Hawkeye]

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

You know how I feel about this. And of course I feel strongly about it if it's young people being executed. And the kids who shot people at Columbine High were still young. I do think it's a shame and sad that my friend was met with such strong opposition when presenting her research and opinion because I hate how primitive our society is. I think it's sad that so many of our citizens are so narrow-minded and conventional to a degree that is horrifying. Whether you like it or not, Lux and others will tell you that we're the only supposedly "progressive" country that has not abolished the death penalty. The only thing worse than that to me is the idea that we could execute minors. It's hard for me to tolerate such a notion.

And, as Danny said, it's quite a laughing matter.

I know there tons of other possibly more progressive societies, but in the case of the death penalty I really don't care how much more progressive other countries are.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

I don't think it's sad she was met with oppostion. What's wrong with killing two 16 year olds who did a school shooting.

Well, we never had to face that did we? They did it themselves.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

you people act like this is a bunch of little children being executed or something. Think columbine kids if they hadn't already executed themselves

And you obviously don't know the whole story...

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

And the kids who shot people at Columbine High were still young.

Not to mention they were picked on and harassed constantly by the jocks and the "cool kids" while the principal and administration sat idly by and did nothing. Who was it that was condoning cliques in another thread? If you mercilessly harass and embarass someone who you think is emotionally or physically weaker than you, do not be surprised if they retaliate. Do not be surprised at the level of their retaliation.
Oh and before anyone comes back with a response...my brother worked for Jeffco schools for 25 years and my daughter attended them k-8. I also knew the first two paramedics on the scene and watched friends on the SWAT team march into the school live on television.
Believe me, we discussed it in one way or another later on. It was horrific, all the way around.