John Allen Muhammad execution set for tonight. Opinions ?

[cbelt3]

Virginia set to execute "Beltway Sniper"

Mine?

I'm honest enough to admit that the vengeance aspect is very attractive. I have a sister who lived in the area during that time, and lived in fear like everyone else. She was at a store, and heard the next day that someone had been shot and killed in the parking lot a few hours after she left the store.

I hope he likes it in Hell.

[$tevie]

Well, to be honest, I am finding this a little flippant, too. I'm not sure a poll with snappy answers is my idea of how to respond to those terrifying days. We're all getting quite casual about the deaths of strangers, aren't we?

[freeradical]

Lame duck governor, so there's probably little chance of clemency.

[michaelb]

I am opposed to the death penalty generally, but don't really have a problem with this one for a variety of reasons. There is no question about guilt; mass murder; I don't buy the psychiatric defense, since this was carried out over several days/weeks involving a complex scheme, with a forced accomplice, all of which suggests a very high level of cognitive ability during the spree.

No chance for clemency either.

[Don Kiyoti]

I support the death penalty.

In theory, because in practice we have some very serious problems with its implementation.

Perhaps there should be a higher standard of guilt reserved for death penalty convictions: guilty beyond any doubt whatsoever, in order to prevent the execution of those who might be exonerated by DNA evidence and the like.

There have been many cases where defendants in death penalty cases have not been provided with adequate and competent defense.

We need to be clear on why there is a death penalty. It clearly does not deter crime. It is for the relief and satisfaction of the victims' families and society at large.

[davester]

I'm ambivalent. The guy is clearly guilty and doesn't deserve to live, but I'm opposed to the death penalty because it has been applied to so many innocent people, it costs society far more than jailing people, and it encourages murder by sending the message to society that vengeance killing is a valid remedy for what ails you.

[Carnos Jax]

>We need to be clear on why there is a death penalty. It clearly does not deter crime. It is for the relief and satisfaction of the victims' families and society at large.

I agree. With the level of organization in modern human society, there's no reason to put someone to death so that their threat to society is eliminated. Don't get me wrong, if it was my loved one who was killed, I'd be vengeful too. But then again, I'd be vengeful against a drunk driver who killed a loved one. If we let vengeance/justice be the only motive to put someone to death, then we remove any rational argument for it. What we should be concerned about is elimination of the threat to society, not revenge.

[decay]

it clearly does not deter others from doing the same thing; so is it an effective punishment?

i'm against killing of other humans in almost all cases.

he should serve a punishment that reminds him every single day what he did... for example, helping those who have lost loved ones to gun violence, or having to help educate young people on the serious danger of guns when not used in the proper way. (this is not an anti-gun statement)

in a way, he's being let off easier than if he had to live every day until he's old knowing what he did was wrong, and attempting to make amends until that time.

[Gutenberg]

It's official--Gov. Kaine has turned down Muhammad's request for clemency.

[$tevie]

I am morally opposed to the death penalty -- but for some reason the older I get, the harder it is for me to feel uncomfortable about someone like this being done away with. I guess my ethics are getting creaky and old like I am.