Poll: Do you support the death penalty? / LJWorld.com

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Response		Percent	Votes
Yes		57%	537
No		34%	329
Not sure		8%	76
Total	942

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LJWorld.com doesn’t necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy. Also, read about banned accounts and harassing comments.

frankwiles (anonymous) says…

Wow these poll results so far surprise me. I'm not sure how anyone can reasonably support it. It costs more to execute someone than to keep them in jail. We've made mistakes in the past ( as a country ), and later found out we executed innocent people via DNA evidence. Not to mention it does very little to discourage the original crime itself.

I used to be a big supporter of the death penalty, but the more I read up on the subject the less and less sense it made.
March 6, 2009 at 9:44 a.m.
jcinelli (Janet Cinelli) says…

hear hear, Frank. I couldn't say it better myself.
March 6, 2009 at 10:22 a.m.
akuna (anonymous) says…

I agree.

Plus for a nation that's population is mainly Christian, we don't really follow a lot of Christian ideals. I was always told to "turn the other cheek," and to "act out of forgiveness." I guess I was schooled wrong.
March 6, 2009 at 10:25 a.m.
HermioneElliott (anonymous) says…

The death penalty is not for revenge and it is not to deter crime, it is reserved for truly horrendous crimes. The Catholic Catechism states that for certain crimes the death penalty is acceptable.
I have no idea what "turn the other cheek" means.
March 6, 2009 at 10:30 a.m.
merritr (anonymous) says…

What i really like is that the Pro-Life voters overwhelmingly support the death penalty. Pro-Life = more death.
March 6, 2009 at 10:57 a.m.
blue73harley (anonymous) says…

frankwiles - name one person in the US who was ever executed and later found innocent by DNA evidence. On the other hand, there are prison escapes and prison releases where horrendous crimes were again committed.
March 6, 2009 at 10:59 a.m.
gogoplata (anonymous) says…

In theory yes. In practice no.

And there is nothing wrong with pro life people supporting the death penalty. I can see why someone who is against the killing of the innocent can be for the execution of the guilty. The one I have a harder time seeing is Pro Life people supporting illegal and immoral wars. Some churches are practically recruiting stations for the ungodly US Military.
March 6, 2009 at 11:08 a.m.
autie (anonymous) says…

hmm..New testatment = turn the other cheek
Old testatment = eye for an eye
Texas says if you kill us, we'll kill you back

I think in the most horrendous and heinous situations..I have to support it..but should be carried out about an hour after judgment is passed.
March 6, 2009 at 11:38 a.m.
samsnewplace (anonymous) says…

autie I agree...who wants to support them for years while they have appeal after appeal, usually their victims did not have those options.
March 6, 2009 at 11:50 a.m.
8ball (anonymous) says…

abortion,death penalty-isnt it all murder?
March 6, 2009 at 11:52 a.m.
labmonkey (anonymous) says…

Although I am a supporter, I would agree to abolish it if abortion were abolished.

I don't see how someone could let a serial murderer or child molester live yet let an innocent, unborn child, who cannot even cry in its own defense be murdered. If you abolish the death penality, then abolish the legalized murder called abortion.
March 6, 2009 at noon
ThatGirl2 (anonymous) says…

HermioneElliott (Anonymous) says…

The death penalty is not for revenge and it is not to deter crime, it is reserved for truly horrendous crimes. The Catholic Catechism states that for certain crimes the death penalty is acceptable.
I have no idea what “turn the other cheek” means.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

If it is not exacted for revenge, and you admit it doesn't deter crimes......remind me again why it would be a good idea??
March 6, 2009 at noon
ThatGirl2 (anonymous) says…

blue73harley (Anonymous) says…

frankwiles - name one person in the US who was ever executed and later found innocent by DNA evidence.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Timothy Cole for starters.....
March 6, 2009 at 12:02 p.m.
ThatGirl2 (anonymous) says…

Technically, Tim Cole died on death row--he hadn't been officially put to death yet.....but I fail to see how that changes anything.
March 6, 2009 at 12:04 p.m.
blue73harley (anonymous) says…

So, in other words, none.
March 6, 2009 at 12:46 p.m.
vertigo (Jesse Crittenden) says…

Here's a list of some that were sentenced to death (although not YET executed) who were later exonerated:

David Keaton
Samuel A. Poole
Wilbert Lee
Freddie Pitts
James Creamer
Christopher Spicer
Thomas Gladish
Richard Greer
Ronald Keine
Clarence Smith
Delbert Tibbs
Earl Charles
Jonathan Treadway
Gary Beeman
Jerry Banks
Larry Hicks
Charles Ray Giddens
Michael Linder
Johnny Ross
Ernest (Shujaa) Graham
Annibal Jaramillo
Lawyer Johnson
Larry Fisher
Anthony Brown
Neil Ferber
Clifford Henry Bowen
Joseph Green Brown
Perry Cobb
Darby (Williams) Tillis
Vernon McManus
Anthony Ray Peek
Juan Ramos
Robert Wallace
Richard Neal Jones
Willie Brown
Larry Troy
Randall Dale Adams
Robert Cox
Timothy Hennis
James Richardson
Clarence Brandley
John C. Skelton
Dale Johnston
Jimmy Lee Mathers
Gary Nelson
Bradley P. Scott
Charles Smith
Jay C. Smith
Kirk Bloodsworth
Federico M. Macias
Walter McMillian
Gregory R. Wilhoit
James Robison
Muneer Deeb
Andrew Golden
Adolph Munson
Robert Charles Cruz
Rolando Cruz
Alejandro Hernandez
Sabrina Butler
Joseph Burrows
Verneal Jimerson
Dennis Williams
Roberto Miranda
Gary Gauger
Troy Lee Jones
Carl Lawson
David Wayne Grannis
Ricardo Aldape Guerra
Benjamin Harris
Robert Hayes
Christopher McCrimmon
Randall Padgett
James Bo Cochran
Robert Lee Miller, Jr.
Curtis Kyles
Shareef Cousin
Anthony Porter
Steven Smith
Ronald Williamson
Ronald Jones
Clarence Dexter, Jr.
Warren Douglas Manning
Alfred Rivera
Steve Manning
Eric Clemmons
Joseph Nahume Green
Earl Washington
William Nieves
Frank Lee Smith - died prior to exoneration
Michael Graham
Albert Burrell
Oscar Lee Morris
Peter Limone
Gary Drinkard
Joaquin Jose Martinez
Jeremy Sheets
Charles Fain
Juan Roberto Melendez
Ray Krone
Thomas Kimbell, Jr.
Larry Osborne
Aaron Patterson
Madison Hobley
Leroy Orange
Stanley Howard
Rudolph Holton
Lemuel Prion
Wesley Quick
John Thompson
Timothy Howard
Gary Lamar James
Joseph Amrine
Nicholas Yarris
Alan Gell
Gordon Steidl
Laurence Adams
Dan L. Bright
Ryan Matthews
Ernest Ray Willis
Derrick Jamison
Harold Wilson
John Ballard
Curtis McCarty
Michael McCormick
Jonathon Hoffman
Kennedy Brewer
Glen Chapman
Levon Jones
Michael Blair
March 6, 2009 at 12:48 p.m.
ThatGirl2 (anonymous) says…

blue73harley (Anonymous) says…

So, in other words, none.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Wrong.

And I think I am missing your point.....because, given the large amount of people who were to be put to death and were then exonerated by DNA (after spending YEARS on death row), even you will concede that the system isn't perfect, and innocent people get sentenced to death. They don't do DNA on people already executed--unless the family can afford it and is willing to do so to prove their loved one innocent after the fact.
March 6, 2009 at 12:55 p.m.
blue73harley (anonymous) says…

Guys like Tim McVeigh make the death penalty worthwhile.
March 6, 2009 at 1:13 p.m.
blue73harley (anonymous) says…

"If we execute murderers and there is in fact no deterrent effect, we have killed a bunch of murderers. If we fail to execute murderers, and doing so would in fact have deterred other murders, we have allowed the killing of a bunch of innocent victims. I would much rather risk the former. This, to me, is not a tough call."

John McAdams - Marquette University/Department of Political Science, on deterrence
March 6, 2009 at 1:27 p.m.
coolmom (anonymous) says…

i say yes. personal not political.
March 6, 2009 at 1:38 p.m.
KansasVoter (anonymous) says…

The death penalty obviously isn't a deterrent to crime so I think that it needs to be done away with. There are too many instances of innocent men sitting on death row, and even one innocent man is too many.
March 6, 2009 at 1:44 p.m.
vertigo (Jesse Crittenden) says…

In the last 7 years states WITH a death penalty have an average of 41% higher murder rate than those states without.

What's the argument for deterrence again?
March 6, 2009 at 1:47 p.m.
jonas_opines (anonymous) says…

"Name one person in the US who was ever executed and later found innocent by DNA evidence."

Tell me Blue, can you name a single person in the US who was ever executed and post-mortem had their investigation re-opened to prove their innocence? Without that, it's kind of hard to know where to start, but the long list of people who were exonerated before execution would lead a reasonable and non-biased person to assume that there are probably at least. . . one or two who were indeed wrongfully executed.
March 6, 2009 at 1:49 p.m.
vertigo (Jesse Crittenden) says…

Tim Masters wasn't given the death penalty- only life.

However, what a sh*t sandwich that guy had to eat. I hope he wins his lawsuit.
March 6, 2009 at 1:57 p.m.
blue73harley (anonymous) says…

Jonas - no I can't. I was simply pointing out that this sentence - "We've made mistakes in the past ( as a country ), and later found out we executed innocent people via DNA evidence" - has no merit.

I just think the death penalty is completely appropriate in certain cases.
March 6, 2009 at 1:57 p.m.
RETICENT_IRREVERENT (Ronaldo Ignacio) says…

The way I look at it is this: the day we can actually feel and hear all the suffering of mankind, that's the day when "The Christ" will come back!
So we got that going for us.
March 6, 2009 at 2:13 p.m.
Lynn731 (anonymous) says…

It may not serve as a deterrent, but you can be certain that executed criminals will never hurt anyone again. Thank you, Lynn
March 6, 2009 at 2:15 p.m.
blue73harley (anonymous) says…

Examples of certain cases -
Howard Allen – convicted of one murder and suspected of two others carried out between 1974 and 1987 in Indianapolis, Indiana
David Berkowitz – aka "Son of Sam" and "The .44 Caliber Killer"; convicted of six murders in New York
Robert Berdella – convicted of killing six men in 1988 in Kansas City, Missouri; sexually tortured and dismembered his victims
Kenneth Bianchi and Angelo Buono, Jr. – aka the "Hillside Strangler"; killers of 13 women and possibly involved in three other killings
Richard Biegenwald – convicted of killing five people in the early 1980s in the Asbury Park, New Jersey area; suspected in at least six other murders
Arthur Gary Bishop – Utah man who murdered five young boys; executed in 1988
Terry Blair – Kansas City serial killer and rapist; active 1982–2004
William Bonin – aka "The Freeway Killer"; with several accomplices, claimed the lives of 20 boys in California
Robert Charles Browne – convicted of two murders in Colorado; confessed to 48 murders
Ted Bundy – law student who raped and murdered more than 35 women in six states
David Carpenter – aka the "Trailside Killer"; murdered five women on San Francisco-area hiking trails between 1979 and 1981
Michael Bear Carson and Suzan Carson – nomadic hippie killers involved in the counter-culture movement; suspects in 12 homicides; sentenced to life imprisonment for three San Francisco Bay Area murders in 1983
Carroll Cole – killed 16 people between 1948 and 1980; executed in 1985
Alton Coleman – multi-state killer whose killings took place during two months in 1984 aided by Debra Denise Brown; was convicted of murder in three states
Ray Copeland and Faye Copeland – oldest couple ever sentenced to death in the United States at the ages of 75 and 69; convicted of killing five men; modus operandi was to hire unskilled drifters as farm hands and later kill them
Jeffrey Dahmer – Milwaukee, Wisconsin cannibal who kept heads, skulls and body parts in his apartment for sexual gratification; convicted of 15 murders, but believed responsible for at least two others
Albert DeSalvo – aka "The Boston Strangler"; convicted of unrelated rapes. DeSalvo was never indicted for the Strangler murders, although he did confess to them.
Joseph Paul Franklin – racist serial killer who targeted interracial couples and attempted to assassinate Larry Flynt and Vernon Jordan; convicted of 11 murders and confessed to nine others.John Wayne Gacy – aka "Killer Clown"; killer of at least 33 men and boys; kept bodies buried under his Chicago home
March 6, 2009 at 2:17 p.m.
vertigo (Jesse Crittenden) says…

And yet the threat of the death penalty still didn't deter them from committing those crimes.
March 6, 2009 at 2:21 p.m.
KansasTwister (anonymous) says…

The death penalty is not a deterrent to crime and never will be. However, it is a penalty. Just like speeding laws -- you break the law and you have to pay. Horrendous crimes need to have significant penalties. And those guilty of horrendous crimes have proven to us that they do not respect the lives and property of what we hold sacred. They have given up those rights. The high costs of the death penalty come from laws and regulations trying to protect the rights of individuals whether they are guilty or innocent. It's time the victims have some rights!!!
March 6, 2009 at 2:26 p.m.
blue73harley (anonymous) says…

Do you miss any of them Jesse?
March 6, 2009 at 2:28 p.m.
BigDog (anonymous) says…

Okay since jail is not a deterrant for many criminals .... and the death penalty isn't a deterrant for murderers ..... what should we do with criminals ..... maybe they are just misunderstood and we can just talk to them nicely and ask them not to do it again
March 6, 2009 at 2:39 p.m.
bunnyhawk (anonymous) says…

Here's a list of all the other world leading countries that we're keeping company with in allowing the continuation of the barbaric practice of the death penalty. Of particular interest is the fact that we're in lock step with Bush's Axis of Evil in believing the government has the right to kill our fellow citizens (Iran, Iraq, and South Korea). You folks in the anti-choice, pro-murder by jury crowd are always quoting the Bible............what version do y'all read? Is there a new edition that omits the Golden Rule??????

Afghanistan
Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belize
Botswana
Burundi
Cameroon
Chad
China (People's Republic)
Comoros
Congo (Democratic Republic)
Cuba
Dominica
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Gabon
Ghana
Guatemala
Guinea
Guyana
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Korea, North
Korea, South
Kuwait
Laos
Lebanon
Lesotho
Libya
Malawi
Malaysia
Mongolia
Nigeria
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian Authority
Qatar
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Saudi Arabia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Somalia
Sudan
Swaziland
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Trinidad and Tobago
Uganda
United Arab Emirates
United States
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe
March 6, 2009 at 2:44 p.m.
jnixon (anonymous) says…

There is a killer sitting on Death Row convicted of kidnapping and killing my Cousin's 11 year-old daughter, Andi(raping, then strangling her with his bare hands and hiding her body). He even 'helped search' for her, SICKO... He was supposed to be on Arkansas' 'Fast Track' (2 years - then sentence is carried out). It has now been nearly 10 years - he is still alive and nothing will bring Andi back. The reason that it is not effective, people, is because organizations like the ACLU jump in and convince these 'convicted'/'Confessed' murderers that they need to fight the sentence by filing appeal after appeal. There are other fights for peoples' rights that the ACLU could put their 'dog' in...
March 6, 2009 at 2:52 p.m.
jonas_opines (anonymous) says…

"I just think the death penalty is completely appropriate in certain cases."

It could be. My problem is that I have lost faith in our government's ability to logically, properly, and uncorruptedly make distinctions for "certain cases."
March 6, 2009 at 2:52 p.m.
bunnyhawk (anonymous) says…

Now, here's the list of countries who have banished the death penalty. Russia is not on either list, but they have had a 'de facto' ban on the death penalty since 1999. Russia!!! If you're not ashamed that this universal bastion of freedom, The United States of America, is not on this list-----you should be!!!!!

Death Penalty Outlaw ed (year)
Albania (2000)
Andorra (1990)
Angola (1992)
Argentina (2008)
Armenia (2003)
Australia (1984)
Austria (1950)
Azerbaijan (1998)
Belgium (1996)
Bhutan (2004)
Bosnia-Herzegovina (1997)
Bulgaria (1998)
Cambodia (1989)
Canada (1976)
Cape Verde (1981)
Chile (2008)
Colombia (1910)
Cook Islands (2007)
Costa Rica (1877)
Côte d'Ivoire (2000)
Croatia (1990)
Cyprus (1983)
Czech Republic (1990)
Denmark (1933)
Djibouti (1995)
Dominican Republic (1966)
East Timor (1999)
Ecuador (1906)
Estonia (1998)
Finland (1949)
France (1981)
Georgia (1997)
Germany (1949)
Greece (1993)
Guinea-Bissau (1993)
Haiti (1987)
Honduras (1956)
Hungary (1990)
Iceland (1928)
Ireland (1990)
Italy (1947)
Kiribati (1979)
Liberia (2005)
Liechtenstein (1987)
Lithuania (1998)
Luxembourg (1979)
Macedonia (1991)
Malta (1971)
Marshall Islands (1986)
Mauritius (1995)
Mexico (2005)
Micronesia (1986)
Moldova (1995)
Monaco (1962)
Montenegro (2002)
Mozambique (1990)
Namibia (1990)
Nepal (1990)
Netherlands (1870)
New Zealand (1961)
Nicaragua (1979)
Niue (n.a.)
Norway (1905)
Palau (n.a.)
Panama (1903)
Paraguay (1992)
Poland (1997)
Portugal (1867)
Philippines (2006)
Romania (1989)
Rwanda (2007)
Samoa (2004)
San Marino (1848)
São Tomé and Príncipe (1990)
Senegal (2004)
Serbia (2002)
Seychelles (1993)
Slovak Republic (1990)
Slovenia (1989)
Solomon Islands (1966)
South Africa (1995)
Spain (1978)
Sweden (1921)
Switzerland (1942)
Turkey (2002)
Turkmenistan (1999)
Tuvalu (1978)
Ukraine (1999)
United Kingdom (1973)
Uruguay (1907)
Uzbekistan (2008)
Vanuatu (1980)
Vatican City (1969)
Venezuela (1863)
March 6, 2009 at 2:53 p.m.
BigDog (anonymous) says…

bunnyhawk
You folks in the anti-choice, pro-murder by jury crowd are always quoting the Bible…………what version do y'all read? Is there a new edition that omits the Golden Rule??????
--------------------------------------
Those in the anti-life crowd ..... have issues with the death penalty because?????
March 6, 2009 at 2:57 p.m.
yourworstnightmare (anonymous) says…

I do think that there are those whose crimes make them deserving of death.

I am far less certain of the ability of any justice system to accurately and fairly decide who deserves this punishment.

The death penalty is forever, a permanent decision that cannot be reversed. Because of these factors, I do not support the death penalty.
March 6, 2009 at 3:05 p.m.
75x55 (anonymous) says…

"Is there a new edition that omits the Golden Rule??????"

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you?

So, I guess I would expect to pay the penalty if I was convicted with overwhelming evidence ( even DNA evidence ). Makes sense.

However, no one is really asking for the method of execution to be the same as that suffered by the victim, so it tends to be an enhancement of the golden rule, eh?
March 6, 2009 at 3:23 p.m.
blue73harley (anonymous) says…

nightmare - I am completely confident that when they find numerous dead bodies in a crawlspace and body parts in someone's refridgerator -that person is deserving of a permanent decision.
March 6, 2009 at 3:31 p.m.
A20271 (anonymous) says…

I want to see another list!
March 6, 2009 at 3:41 p.m.
bunnyhawk (anonymous) says…

You need to keep up, 75x55. American law enforcement agencies don't have access to technology anything like you see on your favorite shoot 'em up crime shows. Even the most current DNA and fingerprint technologies are scientifically shakey at best. There is nothing 'overwhelming' about it. The Golden Rule thing.......what if you or someone you care about got the death penalty for a crime you didn't commit??? What purpose does it serve our national soul to have a public policy of murdering our own citizens??? How does that make a stronger, safer country for our families? How safe can any of us feel in Kansas knowing that anywhere we go our fellow citizens are carrying concealed weapons??? When we devalue one life, we devalue all life.
March 6, 2009 at 3:50 p.m.
blue73harley (anonymous) says…

"How safe can any of us feel in Kansas knowing that anywhere we go our fellow citizens are carrying concealed weapons???"

A lot safer than if we couldn't carry. Go figure. Someone who is against the death penalty is also against citizens defending themselves.
March 6, 2009 at 3:54 p.m.
75x55 (anonymous) says…

All must be presumed innocent, even if proven guilty....
March 6, 2009 at 3:58 p.m.
labmonkey (anonymous) says…

And most of the anti-death penality people I see on here are for allowing abortion. Kill the baby, let the serial murderer or child molester live.

I propose a compromise between liberals and conservatives...abolish both the death penality and abortion.
March 6, 2009 at 4 p.m.
ThatGirl2 (anonymous) says…

ArumerZwarteHoop (Anonymous) says…

It is well worth killing one innocent person to serve justice to 10,000 of the worst human beings that walk to the earth.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

I assume you would be okay being the "one innocent" person then?
March 6, 2009 at 4:34 p.m.
50YearResident (anonymous) says…

We have enough good people, we don't need the bad ones. Get them out, as soon as posible. It won't take long for them to see the light if a few (or all) are eliminated within 30 days.
March 6, 2009 at 6:31 p.m.
50YearResident (anonymous) says…

frankwiles (Anonymous) says…

Wow these poll results so far surprise me. I'm not sure how anyone can reasonably support it. It costs more to execute someone than to keep them in jail. We've made mistakes in the past ( as a country ), and later found out we executed innocent people via DNA evidence. Not to mention it does very little to discourage the original crime itself.

It only costs more because it is not swiftly carried out. Executions in 30 days and the point that crime does not pay will be clarified. This is for people caught doing the crime. No appeals, direct to the death chamber. I guarantee it will work.
March 6, 2009 at 6:39 p.m.
Freestater456 (anonymous) says…

I agree Larry!
Lets go back to the way they did it in the middle ages. Get the mob mentality going and then everyone will be for the death penalty. Sounds good to me!
March 6, 2009 at 7:24 p.m.
bolshavik_vw (anonymous) says…

It should be taken at the time of Booking. If it is a match then yes execution is worth giving this person the proper justice. If not let them go once you are certain, that they are not the one.
March 6, 2009 at 7:39 p.m.
pity2bu (anonymous) says…

With all the whining going on here, lets just let all the mopes out of jail and they can stay with all the squish-heads here in Lawrence that do not believe in the death penalty and also believe each are just misunderstood souls.
March 6, 2009 at 7:45 p.m.
jumpin_catfish (anonymous) says…

I too am ashamed of our country and all the innocent people put to death especially the unborn.
March 6, 2009 at 8:46 p.m.
gccs14r (anonymous) says…

"Honest, officer, I just moved in and had no idea there were bodies down there!"

Proof is hard to come by in the best of circumstances. If proof were easy, it wouldn't be remarkable.
March 7, 2009 at 12:31 a.m.
RETICENT_IRREVERENT (Ronaldo Ignacio) says…

No, but I support retroactive abortion.
March 7, 2009 at 8:36 a.m.
viewfromahill (anonymous) says…

Imposing a death penalty for the taking of life merely reduces us to the level of perpetrator (murderer).

And who then will execute the executioner?
March 7, 2009 at 8:38 a.m.
nixon00 (anonymous) says…

A man raped and murdered my 12 year old cousin and not only admitted to it, but when asked if he'd do it again said "I don't know, maybe". Who wants to pay the bill to keep him alive? By the way, he is on death row and has been for 10 years now.
March 16, 2009 at 4:42 p.m.