Culver's stance on death penalty - WCF Courier

[Debi]

Misleading headline....thanks Courier staff


Gubernatorial candidate Culver outlines his own plan to reinstate death penalty

JOHNSTON --- Secretary of State Chet Culver, who is seeking the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, on Friday outlined his plan to reinstate the death penalty for "the most heinous" crimes, such as the kidnapping and murder of a child.

However, Culver said he opposes the Senate Republican plan for the death penalty --- which would apply to offenders who kidnap, rape and murder a child --- because it does not include strong enough provisions to protect against wrongful conviction.

"I do believe that in the most heinous situations involving the most heinous crimes, that the death penalty is warranted," he said, during the taping of the Iowa Public Television program "Iowa Press."

Culver said he would support reinstating the death penalty for people convicted of three crimes or combinations of crimes: murdering a police officer, certain terrorist acts and kidnapping and murdering a child.

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http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2005/11/20/news/politics/c0d896922d59d297862570bf0014cbd2.txt

[Bluzmann57]

1. Interesting comments

I guess we here in DU knew his stance, and some agree and some don't and that's just fine. In my case, as I get older, I am becoming somewhat more conservative on crime and punishment. Never have believed in the death penalty, and still sorta don't, but those things that (allegedly) kidnapped and killed Jetseta Gage really don't deserve to breathe the same air as decent law abiding citizens. My suggestion is to keep them in solitary confinement with no contact with the outside world at all. That means no magazines, television, radio, phone calls, nothing. Keep them in a small cell with a toilet and a slab for a bed and limited light. If a person was to never have contact with the rest of the world for life, that may be a deterrent to commiting heinous crimes. But there is a liklihood that my suggestion would be considered "cruel and unusual" punishment and would never be implemented. So death penalty it is for freaks like those.

[Lurch762]

2. I'm with you.

If I knew that the bad guy would sit in the cell you describe, I would oppose the death penalty myself. But for some reason we can't get that to happen. Just wanted to let you know you're not alone.

[Bluzmann57]

3. Thanks

and welcome to DU. We fuss and fight a lot in here, but when it comes down to crunch time, we mostly agree. We all agree that bush and co. must go.