Death Penalty Musings.

The Death Penalty is the hot topic in Wisconsin right now. The Steven Avery case has brought it back into focus and a non-binding death penalty referendum is going to be on the ballot this year.

As long time readers know I am in favor of the death penalty in certain cases.

Contract killers.

A person that kills as a private business has no place in civilized society, period!

Career Criminals that kill.

A person with a long criminal history who finally kills has a record of disregard for the law and finally has demonstrated a disregard for human life. They have no place in civilized society.

Criminals that kill in order to "leave no witnesses".

Studies do show there is a deterrent effect in these cases. If a criminal rapes a woman and then has no substantial penalty above and beyond the rape, why leave a witness?

There are good arguments against the death penalty but they fall short in my view.

The first one is what if an innocent gets put to death. Well, forensic science is light years ahead of what it used to be, and I am willing to wait a good long time to let appeals run their course.

It is cheaper to put a person behind bars than to execute them. Yes, but what about justice? Justice? That's just revenge you say. Call it what you want, what does it say to a victim's family that we treasure the life of the criminal more than the victim?

Anti-DP advocates often tell us we can throw the killers away for life and throw away the key. Well, just because they are in prison does not mean a convicted murderer will not kill again. People in prison do kill and are killed. Also, how about clemency? Time off for good behavior? How about the fact that life does not mean life?

One argument that is often used to, is the life in prison is harsher than being put to death. Then, why do the condemned fight their sentences like they do?