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Re: Death penalty
Tom Brosz — (archived)

<...as far as murders go, I have yet to see an actual case (I have heard rumors, but never an actual case) of an innocent man put to death.

He's right. I looked it up. Didn't believe it myself at first. There is no case of anyone being formally executed by the State by error since they have been keeping detailed records.

Anti-death-penalty groups are constantly mentioning the "risk," or "potential" of executing an innocent person. Do a search on the subject ("Execution of Innocent")--the words appear over and over again, along with every possible phrasing of the POTENTIAL of executing an innocent person. But so far, it hasn't happened. They point out the many people who have been released from Death Row after further evidence is found. Well, doesn't this show the system works?

Believe me, if there was solid evidence that an innocent person had been executed, this person would be the anti-death-penalty Poster Boy, named by name in every last debate.

On the other hand, it is reasonable to point out two things: maybe an innocent person was executed, and no one bothered to do the legwork to prove he was innocent. What's the motivation after the fact? And certainly it is obvious that given the number of people who have been wrongly found to be on Death Row (expect a lot more with new DNA tests), that sooner or later somebody's luck is going to run out.

I believe in the death penalty, but I also have no problem with the convoluted, multi-year, multi-appeal process required to carry it out. If you're going to kill someone for a crime, you better be damn sure he did it.

Oh, wait. This is the Flame Board.

Everyone who disagrees with me is cordially requested to bite the wax tadpole.

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