How should Murderers be dealt with?

[coloradodem2005]

My mother was expressing annoyance that this kid (I forgot his name) killed a 6-year old girl when he was 12, got a life sentence and now is getting off 5 years later. I know that there are conditions for him, such as remaining under house arrest for another year. But my mother says that now they are coddling him instead of trying to let people know very early on in life that murder, etc. is wrong. What are your thoughts?

[sidwill]

1. If you break the social contract

and INTENTIONALLY kill another human being, then Its my opinion that unless there are extenuating circumstances you should be eliminated.

[Dookus]

3. ah

so we should kill people to show people that killing people is wrong.

[sidwill]

8. No

I don't feel that at all. I just think that when one commits the ultimate offense society has a duty to remove him/her from its ranks.

p.s. I like the Island thing too, drop em off and let them live by the law of the jungle amongst other murderers.

[sidwill]

10. In regards to Tate

He is a child who made a mistake, I would noy hold him to the adult standard.

[epresley]

13. Would be a nice and neat solution - BUT

rich people don't get the death penalty or do the same time as the rest of us and the death penalty is sought for minorities who commit murder more often than for whites. Its not an equitable system and should be done away with.

[JasonDeter]

21. So then your saying that human beings are 'unredeemable'?

I disagree.

[SheilaT]

25. Yes, yes! That's right!

That EXACTLY how to show that murder is evil, wicked, wrong. Kill those who kill! I wonder why every country doesn't do that?

[TexasMexican]

30. Not Quite

We should kill murderers for revenge.

It has nothing to do with showing people that killing is wrong, because killing is not necesarily wrong.

Its entirely possible to kill someone and be right, such as when defending ones self, or executing murderers.

[bif]

2. Drop em off on a deserted island...

Surrounded by gunships. Let them fend for themselves and learn to work together to survive. If they try to escape, they're history.

[damnraddem]

7. No, when they take over the gunships, then ...

we're history.

[sidwill]

16. Wasn't that

A Ray Liotta Movie?

[plurality]

4. Is this that Tate kid that killed his cousin while immitating wrestling?

If so, I wouldn't exactly consider it murder for one.

[damnraddem]

5. Vote them out of office.

Oh, onthe Florida case. A distinction needs to be made between children and adults, and I don't mean trying children as adults. A life sentence (or death penalty) is not appropriate when a child kills. What is adequate? I don't know. But 5 years might be long enough for a 12-year-old who kills. Now wasn't this case the 'wrestling' case? If that's the one, alhtough events leading to the death did not reveal the best use of brains or common sense, it was also not a case of premeditated murder. Why should anyone get a life sentence under such circumstances? Still, an adult might be held sufficiently responsible for the stupidity, so as to receive a sentence of 5 or 10 years in such a case. But should a 12-year-old? I argue not.

[KissMyAsscroft]

6. Lionel Tate

He is a mentally retarded 12 year old that was imitating wrestling and accidentally killed a young friend. It wasn't a malicious act, it was an accident.

The kid has an IQ of 60. He doesn't know whether to put on his shoe or take a bite out of it.

Basically, he shouldn't have been left unsupervised.

What would be the point of making an example out of him? So that other 12 year old mentally challenged children wouldn't imitate wrestling? It doesn't make sense and luckily the public outcry was loud enough that Jeb told the prosecutor to work with the defense to get the charges dropped.

[epresley]

9. This kid got sentenced to life without the possibility of

parole for goodness sakes. For something which he claimed was accidental. People who commit far worse acts get far far less than that. The mother of the victim in this case thought the punishment was too severe. There was no 'intent' to murder any one in this instance. If you are going to put a 12 year old away for LIFE you are in essence saying there is no possibility for this person to be rehabilitated. If thats the case, shame on all of us.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

11. Fully agreed

You can't possibly convince me that someone who hasn't even reached puberty yet can't change. Not in the least. Now, unless there becomes a 12 year old serial killer, there is no way in hell that the kid should be tried as an adult. Under no circumstances. NONE. EVER.

[Frangible]

12. Depends

But probably executed. While the case you cite doesn't appear to be premeditated murder, I'm of the "Code of Hammurabi" belief; an eye for an eye.

If you have a problem with getting executed, I have but a simple suggestion: don't murder people.

[Pithlet]

26. I have a problem with it if I'm innocent.

What happens if the courts realize their mistake after I'm already dead?

[donco6]

14. Assuming that their verdict is accurate . . .

. . . and that's always a big assumption . . .

I would rather they be given some sort of chance for societal redemption. Perhaps through prison work programs or something that could give them some dignity.

If that fails, I think the island thing sounds good.

[JasonDeter]

15. As far as the 12 yr old, when he's 21 he gets out. But what about mom?

His mother tried to cover up the circumstances, why did she get off scottfree?

[MrSlayer]

17. Should be killed.

As soon as possible in open and shut cases (Caught on video, witnessed by many, etc). And in cases where there is doubt, as soon as it is proven by DNA testing or whatever forensic evidence there is. I am outraged over the release of the little monster who murdered that poor little girl. He should be riding the lightning. Sorry if I seem callous or barbaric, that's the way it should be.

[prolesunited]

19. Perhaps you would enjoy living in Iran

that in the ONLY other country in the world that executes juveniles.

BTW, we had a discussion on this issue a couple of days ago. Here's the link:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1059341#1067330

[Kathy in Cambridge]

22. What if it were your child who murdered the girl?

Then you're at fault for raising the little monster.

Any kid that kills at 12 years old is a product of their upbringin, or insane. You must love that we execute the metally ill and retarded folks too.

[MrSlayer]

23. What purpose are you serving to humanity

if you are so insane you have to kill everyone? I have no problem with executing insane homicidal maniacs.

If my child killed someone in such a heinous manner, I'd escort him to the gas chamber myself. The only thing I hold the parent responsible for is leaving these kids unsupervised. There is no way you can tell me a 12 year old doesn't realize that repeatedly jumping on and stomping a 6 year old who weighs 50 pounds is going to kill her. It's too ridiculous.

[KayLaw]

29. Mr. Slayer

Have a nice day. Have a real nice day!

:mad:

[Pithlet]

27. It goes beyond barbaric.

This kid had an IQ of 60. He shouldn't have been left unsupervised, for one thing. He did not intend to kill anybody. There really are no words for anyone who feels that any child, let alone one who is mentally retarded, should be executed. I'm sorry.

[DrWeird]

18. depends.

There's a reason we have things called-

First degree murder

second degree murder

voluntary manslaughter

and involuntary manslaughter.

If you plot to kill your husband for his life insurance money, and then kill him, it's first degree murder.

Second degree is murder without premeditation. If somebody rearends your car, and you pull out your gun and shoot him in a fit of rage, it's second degree. Certainly should be locked up for a long time, but I see no reason why a seventy year old man should still be incarcerated for a fit of rage he had when he was twenty.

Voluntary murder is, I believe, when you do something ridiculously reckless, knowing somebody could get killed, without actually wanting to kill somebody. Like firing a gun in a populated area.

Involuntary murder is when you get in a fist fight with some guy, and you punch him, and he falls and hits his head on a rock and dies.

In the Tate case you've got a mentally retarded twelve year old imitating wrestling moves he sees on TV and quite unintentionally kills a small girl. Frankly, the only questions I have about this case is what kind of monster sentences the twelve year old to spend his entire life in prison, what kind of prosecutor would ask for first degree, and who left those kids alone in the first place.

[Devlzown]

20. I don't think there's nearly enough

effort put into rehabilitation for people who commit all sorts of crimes. After we separate these people from society, we decide to punish them or just store them away for safe keeping. Either way, they really aren't ready to be released back into society after being in that kind of environment. I know many of these people do heinous things and some of them should never be released. But a lot of them are mentally ill, addicts, etc. There's hope for a lot of people if we're willing to give it -- even some murderers.

[RedSox02]

24. My problem with the Death Penalty

Let's say you murder 12 people in cold blood, but you have info the prosecution can use against other people. You then probably get a plea bargain. No execution.

However, take some mentally retarded man with no connections whatsoever who commits one murder, and those same prosecutors who worked out a plea deal for the multiple murderer will have no problem pushing for the death penalty here because what good is a mentally retarded man to them. That is one of many problems I see.

[TexasMexican]

28. I think justice was served in the Tate case.

I think its more likely that it was an accident, rather than intentional murder. As such life in prison or the death peanlty would not have been appropriate.

For the real cold blooded and cruel murderers I think they deserve to die.

Just on priniciple I think most people should be allowed a chance at reforming themselves if they murder just 1 person.

Now if you are a multiple murderer, or are especially cruel with the victim then you should get no mercy.