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Capital punishment should be used

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  • David Tewes •
  • Originally published January 2, 2009 at 6:40 p.m., updated January 2, 2009 at 6:40 p.m.

Editor, the Advocate:

I feel that the death penalty should be kept in place in the state of Texas and we, as a state, should use it more often. The people who are put in jail and sentenced to be given the lethal injection are in there for a reason - murder.

If people can just take a life, then they should get what's coming to them. People who take lives should have theirs taken; it is only fair. Even though it doesn't bring back the missing person, it can give some people the closure they need after losing a loved one.

I feel that if it was a cold-blooded kill with no reason, motive, or just because, then that's a reason to take their life, but if someone got killed in self defense, then they don't deserve the injection. However, I feel that murderers should get the lethal injection.

Texas gives more people the needle than any other state. While some states say it is cruel and unusual punishment and goes against the Constitution, I feel that it is perfectly OK to do. It has been around for a while, now. As technology has changed, we have found a more humane way to take the lives of murderers.

Lisa Killebrew

Victoria



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Comments

  • Mike Mike Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink  | 

    Did the author of this letter, wake up one morning, and say "I am going to write a letter justifying the death penalty?” I have not had heard any legislator or group trying to abolish the death penalty.

    I do agree with Karie and Robertx, the death penalty states should give some thought to a moratorium to any death sentence can be not backed up with DNA evidence.

    January 5, 2009 at 1:44 p.m.
  • roberttx roberttx Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink  | 

    until there is a major overhaul of the judicial system, the death penalty needs to be put on hold.
    look up the scam the former DA in the Dallas area had going. lots of convictions, tough on crime, whether you were innocent or guilty did not matter.
     

    January 5, 2009 at 11:29 a.m.
  • Bundy Bundy Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink  | 

    Karie,

    Could it be that "persons of color" commit crimes punishable by the death penalty at a higher rate than white caucasians?
    I love the liberal mindset that thinks all things should be proportionate. Blacks should comprise a proportionate amount of law enforcement officers, regardless how many apply...
    These same people don't seem to care that blacks comprise a higher percentage of sports teams and the entertainment industry than their numbers dictate nationally. I think I will protest at the next Olympics, when 65% of the US track athletes are not white.

    January 5, 2009 at 11:05 a.m.
  • Karie Karie Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink  | 

    The biggest problem with the death penalty is that innocent people have been put on death row, and more than likely, executed. The Innocence Project is finding exonerating DNA evidence to overturn wrongful convictions. The death penalty should not be sought without overwhelming evidence of guilt.

    Furthermore, the death penalty is not applied fairly. Persons of color or minority ethnicity are more likely to get the death penalty than white caucasians.

    Until these problems are resolved, there should be a moratorium on executions.

    January 5, 2009 at 10:44 a.m.
  • dudleysharp dudleysharp Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink  | 

    Unconstituional? No way.

    Twice, the  5th Amendment authorizes execution.

    (1) “ No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury . . . " and

    (2) ". . . nor shall any person  . . . be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law . . . ”.
     
    The 14th amendment is, equally, clear:

    " . . . nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law . . ."
     
    Not surprisingly, over 200 years of US Supreme Court decisions support those amendments and the US Constitution in authorizing and enforcing the death penalty.

    Some wrongly believe that the US Supreme Court decision, Furman v Georgia (1972), found the death penalty unconstitutional. It did not.

    The decisions found that the statutory enforcement of the death penalty in the US was a violation of the 8th Amendment.

    Based upon the death penalty being integral within the constitution, through the 5th and 14th amendments, I do not believe it will ever be found unconstitutional.

    copyright 2007-2008 Dudley Sharp, Permission for distribution of this document, in whole or in part,  is approved with proper attribution.

    Dudley Sharp, Justice Matters
    e-mail  sharpjfa@aol.com,  713-622-5491,
    Houston, Texas
     
    Mr. Sharp has appeared on ABC, BBC, CBS, CNN, C-SPAN, FOX, NBC, NPR, PBS , VOA and many other TV and radio networks, on such programs as Nightline, The News Hour with Jim Lehrer, The O'Reilly Factor, etc., has been quoted in newspapers throughout the world and is a published author.
     
    A former opponent of capital punishment, he has written and granted interviews about, testified on and debated the subject of the death penalty, extensively and internationally.
     

    January 3, 2009 at 9:40 a.m.