Broader Death Penalty Eligibility

[Flabbergasted]

By Chris Creech
Takeaways

Most supporters claim that the death penalty is a crime-deterrent.


Most anti-death penalty groups state that it is uncivil. The U.S. has had a trend as of late. Every state thinks that ridding itself of the death penalty will make it more "civil." However, some states are beginning to trash this trend and do the exact opposite. Several states have decided that they want to seek a wider death penalty.
In one case, Texas and Tennessee want to expand their death-penalty eligible crimes to include other horrible crimes. They want the death penalty to include child molesters who did not end up murdering the children they molested. They hope that this law will show molesters and rapists that they are "serious about protecting children," says Rich Parsons. Parsons says that if molesters realize that they may face the death penalty, it will make them think again about molesting their victims. The law already includes molesters who did kill their victims, as this is murder.

Virginia wants to make murder accomplices eligible for the death penalty. This would encompass not only actual murderers, but people that helped kill victims. Virginia also wants the law to include people who kill judges and court witnesses. Several people support this and know that the death penalty does deter crime and support this law change.

Missouri wants an automatic death penalty for anyone who kills a law enforcement official. Matt Blunt, the governor, wants to protect anyone that serves the public in this way. He says that "This is the type of crime that calls for the death penalty."

Georgia State Representative Barry Fleming introduced a bill that will expand the death penalty as well. This bill will allow a judge to administer the death sentence when nine of twelve jurors vote for it. Currently, it takes twelve out of twelve jurors voting for it to pass.

Utah's House has just passed a bill that will allow the death penalty for murderers of children under 14. This would allow the death penalty even with no intent to kill. It would allow for killing children during assault, sexual assault, abuse, kidnapping, and others. This would make the death penalty eligible to be given even if the defendant had no intent to kill. Paul Ray, a State Representative, says "We're going to send a message that if you kill our kids in Utah, we're going to kill you. In Utah, I don't think we use the death penalty enough."

Other states have begun legislation that will expand the death penalty as well. The support for these bills is high, as most believe that the death penalty is a great crime deterrent.

Emily Bazar, "Wider Death Penalty Sought." USA Today.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/146400/broader_death_penalty_eligibility.html

[AX10]

1. What B.S! The system is flawed.

It's bad enough we have innocent people on death row for murders they did not commit.
Now this can be expanded to even more crimes.

And this is pure B.S!!!
"Missouri wants an automatic death penalty for anyone who kills a law enforcement official. Matt Blunt, the governor, wants to protect anyone that serves the public in this way. He says that "This is the type of crime that calls for the death penalty"

In Oklahoma, you can kill anyone who illegally enters your home and threatens you life, even law enforcement.

I wonder about this country sometimes.

[Double T]

2. Hell, let's NOT even bother with habeas corpus..........

let's go straight to the hangin' tree or gallows.

[AX10]

3. Acutally, that's what Busholini wants.

[alfredo]

4. So if you lose control of your car and you hit and kill a kid,

you can be put to death? You had no intent to kill the kid. What if the accident was not your fault?

[AX10]

5. You see the problem here.

This is truely sick.

[alfredo]

7. I'd have to see the law and how it is written. I'm against the

death penalty in all instances.

[MnFats]

6. given all that's happened in the last few years, how the HELL....

...can ANYONE support expanding capitol punishment?
...how can this country countenance such brutality?

[ProudDad]

8. They're sick f*cks

blood thirsty and counter-productive.

But they think they'll get votes that way.

sick, sick, sick

Murder is murder whether the murderer is the State or an entrepreneur

[Vidar]

9. I support it for treason. Bush & the vast majority of his administration qualify.