What would your decision be....

Andy, at some point you decided you know what my feelings on religion are, but I have never stated one way or the other. So, what you write about in anotherthread concerning Easter or the garden of Eden, I may actually agree with you on. I just don't agree with you on this subject or your use of sweepinggeneralities about people who happen to agree on a particular subject.<br><br>Greg, I agree this is a hot button topic that you and I will respectfully have to agree to disagree on. I am a very compassionate person, but I believe thereis a line that can be crossed that deems a person be removed from society permanently.<br><br>As far as the 3 year old goes, I doubt if the man was ever to get out, the child (then in his 30s) would want to pursue a relationship with the killer of hismother and sibling.

Thanks for the support ToM! Greg, you of anyone should know exactly what I'm talking about when I talk of the spectrum and where the various beliefs liethere-on. Most generally speaking, everthing in the Universe exists somewhere on the spectrum, words, grammar, light, matter, sentiments, politics,acids/bases. Compare the right wing and left wing mentalities. One is acidic, one is a base, and all the pH levels in between! I commented on that. See foryourself and make your own determination, you'll see. If beliefs fall where they do, that's not my doing. I just noticed! Don't take what I saypersonally. I'm a non-believing Catholic, Liberal minded, right of center guy, .................fire away, who cares! Just don't get personal. Icommented on 'a belief', not anyone's belief in particular. Andy<img height="15" src="http://redlinesonlinemessageboard.yuku.com/domain/bypass/images/pacman.gif" width="15" alt="image"><p><br></p>

"i ordered him out the vehicle and asked him to complete some field sobriety tests. after the tests were complete, i then called for a squad to complete amental health evaluation......."<br><br>Thank you sir. That concludes my questioning of said individual.

silence is golden

<img height="15" src="http://redlinesonlinemessageboard.yuku.com/domain/bypass/images/pacman.gif" width="15" alt="image">Reading makes no noise!

<p>Okay guys, prepare for one of my novelettes. I took a day off to spend with my baby bro and this thread went to seven pages. I think a few nerves weretouched. Good. Dialogue time! I probably should start my own thread on this, but trying to squeeze death penalty, religion, abortion and just what the hell ISthat stuff in Hostess Twinkies into a subject line ain't gonna happen.</p><p>So now, without further ado...</p><p>Hunter: wow! Long time no see! Good to see you again.</p><p>Justin, you struck an excellent point in regards to the media. Look at the society we live in, where Geraldoism is the norm. It was Geraldo Rivera whostarted the daytime TV drama. Prior to that he was actually a decent investigative reporter. Then he decided the go the route of sensationalism and it'sbeen downhill since then. We live in a society where newspaper "writers" can't write an article without the help of a spell check, which as weknow is not 100% fool-proof, and television reporters do not want to touch a story unless there is something sensational about it (I'm sure management hasplenty to do with that as well). But hey, we're drinking what they're pouring out, right? By we I mean our society in general.</p><p>Stories about police officers doing good things only make the news if it can be squeezed into the last two minutes of the telecast, which is reserved forfeel-good stories if they can make effort to find them. Even then it has to be something they can giggle about, such as a cop or a fireman doing mouth-to-snoutto save a dog or cat.</p><p>Chris: oh HELL yeah! I've been saying for years that we should televise executions. The problem is, most people aren't going to pay to see some guygo to sleep on a hospital gurney. It appalls me that we're so concerned with putting criminals to death in the most humane way possible, as well as howmuch it costs. I had to have my precious little baby girl (chocolate labrador retriever) put to sleep humanely so that she would no longer feel so much pain.She deserved the most humane method possible and it cost a hell of a lot less.<br></p><p>Why is it that we have to put a child rapist and murder to death in a way that's more humane than a beloved pet? I stand by my previous notion of alarge-calibre bullet directly through the <em>medulla oblongata</em><br>. There's nothing inhumane about that. It's not cruel or unusual. It's not like the guillotine, where it's thought that the human brain mayremain alive for seconds - or even minutes - before it's lights out and thus the person has time for thought. Hell, I'm all for that. Let them spendthose last few seconds or minutes thinking about <em>why</em> they are being put to death.</p><p>And don't anyone give me that barbarism bull crap. Barbarism is hanging people from street lamps, where they can dangle for extended periods of timeuntil they either die from asphyxiation or loss of blood flow to the brain. It's throwing large rocks at someone, pummelling them to death over the periodof what can be <em>hours</em>. If you want to call barbarism, talk to the countries that practise shari'ah law. I'm sure they'd love to hear youropinions.</p><p>Can anyone here give me good reason why a man who kidnapped, repeatedly raped and tortured, then <strong>buried alive</strong> a young girl, should not beput to death? Please tell me how his life is worth more than that cow they bonked over the head, strung up by it's ankles then had it's throat cut andbled out while it was still conscious, so you could have that steak for dinner?</p><p>Greg, I agree that things need to be revamped so that we do not put innocent people to death, but give me a break, man. We're not talking aboutcompassion for the old man who killed his wife to end her suffering because the state didn't have the balls to allow for a Kevorkian-style, see ya laterkinda party. We're not talking about the woman who killed her husband after forty years of constant abuse. We're talking about the scum of the earth Irefer to in my previous paragraph (the guy, not the cow). That is an actual person I refer to, who has been a repeat offender.</p><p>From those of you who bring up the part about those who really are innocent (such as those whose convictions are overturned upon DNA evidence, etc), give mea percentage statistic - and I want to see a citation from a believable source - of how many people have been put to death then later discovered to beinnocent. I constantly hear and read the argument that even one innocent is too much. Again, I agree that the system needs to be revamped. However, in that Ialso mean no more sitting on death row for 40 years. If it can be proved <em>unequivocally</em> that someone is guilty, I say screw the appeals process. YouARE the weakest link. Goodbye.</p><p>Andy again: Exactly what does the homeless guy have to do with the death penalty? I can make an easy connection for you. You didn't say what became ofhis father, but I have a feeling he spent a number of years under the care and supervision of the state, along with plenty of tax dollars being spent to houseand feed the SOB. Had he instead been put to death, that money could have gone to helping his son. Any people there who think the guy should be killed orotherwise put to death merely because he's mentally ill and homeless... THOSE people need to get in queue because I have plenty of b****-slaps to hand outto them. Really, though, I do not at all see what your tangent has to do with the death penalty.</p><p>Greg again. Compassion. I'm all for it. What do you propose we do with all these criminals, who can't seem to live life without killing, raping,molesting or otherwise victimising others? See, this is where the bleeding hearts make me really irate; they call for compassion, saying hey, let's putthese people to work in factories or some place where they can make money to pay for their care. Many of these bleeding hearts are the SAME ones who say no, wecan't do that. Putting them into forced labour is slavery and that's wrong. Going on about human rights and singing kum-bai-ya accomplishes squat. Sogive us a REAL solution instead.</p><blockquote> I'm curious just how many people who call for the death penalty would actually do the deed.</blockquote><br>All right! Now's my chance to show a little ingenuity and creativity. Prepare yourself, this ain't gonna be pretty. This is just one idea, straight offthe top, first thing that came to mind upon reading your question. We don't need people to do the actual deed, but hell, let's put those serial killersto work before they themselves are put to death. I'm sure they'll relish in the opportunity to pull the switch. Okay, this time I got all tangentalbecause that idea came to mind as I began to type my original idea. Back on track now... picture a booth of sorts, where the convicted could kneel and say alast prayer. Yeah, I got the religious thing this time because how many of those on death row don't suddenly find Jesus? The dude sure does pop up in thestrangest of places.<p>So anyway, there's this booth thing, where they can kneel. Think of it like a confessional. Those who didn't miraculously find Jesus hiding on deathrow can just kneel, knowing that their time has come. You know those machines they make you put your face against when having an eye exam and they do the puffything with air against your eyes? Yeah. Use something like that, so the person, as they kneel, put their forehead and chin against. As they do, it sets off atimer. They get a random time between 15 and 45 seconds to do their last words thang and BLAM, automated bullet through the back of the head. That <em>medullaoblongata</em> thing I keep referring to. Lights out. Thank you, drive through.</p><blockquote> The further to the right your frame of mind is, the more visceral and unintellectual you are. The further to the left, the more intellectual and less of a propensity for violence</blockquote><br>Hoo boy. I thought you were off kilter with the religion sidebars but damn boy, you just landed yourself in wackytown. Saying that is no better than someonerepeatedly throwing out the L-word (liberal - the other L word) repeatedly. The attempt to label conservatives as unintellectual is unfair and ignorant. I canname one person straight off who is far right and unintellectual, but that doesn't mean everyone on that end of the spectrum a dullard.<p>Jamie touched on a great point in regards to the right/left, conservative/liberal thing. Thank you, Jamie, because I can tell that you understand noteveryone is always on one side of that invisible line between the two ends. There is more middle than some people realise. As well, there are a number ofpeople who like to hop back and forth. Damn. I sound like a bisexual all of a sudden. Nah, I didn't mean <em>that</em> fence, thank you. What I'msaying is, take a look at this thread. Use my views for an example. Someone who doesn't know me and used Andy's Guide to Right Wingers would surelythink I'm hangin out there with Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly. But wait! Wasn't I the one who recently, in at least one other thread, appeared tobe hangin out with the ACLU bunch? Did I just divide by zero without permission?</p><p>Oh it gets better. Andy pulled out the D-word. Deterrent. It's about damned time someone brought that one into the discussion. After all, the deathpenalty is supposed to be a deterrent, right? Um. No. It's punishment. If it were supposed to be a deterrent, it would be televised. Shock n' awestyle. That guy who is pissed off at the world and wants to go on a shooting rampage might actually stop and think for a change and get his wits about himselfif he watches some scumbag get offed on live television. Repeat sex offender? (Yeah, I know it's redundant, but there are those one in a million whoaren't repeat offenders.) No problem! Caught screwing a kid who hasn't even reached puberty? Off with his dangly bits, said The Queen.</p><p>You don't think <strong>that</strong> would be a deterrent? How do you think we got into this mess in the first place? Too frickin many people gettingwrist slaps and "oh, poor person has a problem, let's hold their hand and help them get better" bull****. There is no incentive to fight thosenasty urges and seek help. Watch a few episodes of "To Catch a Predator" and eventually you'll see at least one guy who got busted for trying tohook up with a 13-year-old CHILD (just because they got boobs and a vagina doesn't make them a woman) do the same crap again. Show him a film depictingsome guy getting his nads hacked off and he'll think twice next time. And if he doesn't, let him be the star in the next version of "bye byeballs." Or better yet, by then we'll know he can't be cured, so a rifle bullet through the back of the skull can "fix" him.</p><p>Last but not least, I'm against abortion AND pro choice. I couldn't do it, but I don't feel it's my right to tell another woman what she canor cannot do with her body. It's up to her to deal with that decision, and up to HER relationship with her God if she has one. Religion. Most of you knowI'm a heathen. Raised Lutheran (Missouri Synod, no less) and now blaspheme at any given opportunity (By the way, Andy, Easter is cancelled - they found abody). Did I leave anything out? Oh yeah, I'm here, I'm queer, blah blah blah and all that crap.</p><p>There. That should do it.</p><p>ps @ Chris: I'm completely sober <img src="http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif"><br><br>The End.<br></p>

Kitty,<br>Trust me, I know you are!

<blockquote> oh HELL yeah! I've been saying for years that we should televise executions.</blockquote><font style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" size="7">Running Man!<br></font><font style="font-weight: bold;" size="7"><font size="3"><br><br>-<br><br></font></font>

"Oh it gets better. Andy pulled out the D-word. Deterrent. It's about damned time someone brought that one into the discussion. After all, the deathpenalty is supposed to be a deterrent, right? Um. No. It's punishment. If it were supposed to be a deterrent, it would be televised. Shock n' awestyle. That guy who is pissed off at the world and wants to go on a shooting rampage might actually stop and think for a change and get his wits about himselfif he watches some scumbag get offed on live television. Repeat sex offender? (Yeah, I know it's redundant, but there are those one in a million whoaren't repeat offenders.) No problem! Caught screwing a kid who hasn't even reached puberty? Off with his dangly bits, said The Queen."<br><br>==============================<br><br>Consider this: we already have "suicide by cop" and "suicide by truck." Whacked out people think like whacked out people. They aren'tinterested in logic or second thoughts. The world owes them something. The voices tell them drive into a semi at 80 miles per and they do it. They thinkpulling a water pistol painted black and pointing it at a cop is smart. It's a spectacular way to go. It makes the news. It makes them <em>somebody</em> ifonly for a very brief instant. They don't care whomever elses' lives they send into the grave or psychiatric care.<br><br>Take the school shootings. Now instead of putting a cap in their own fool selves, these whiny, "nobody loves me or even knows who I am" psychos aregoing to say..."Gee, I'll kill a lot of people and get my name in the national media. THEN, I'll beg for the death penalty and everyone will getto see me die and talk about it at work the next day.<br><br>"SWEEEEEEEET!"<br><br>They're effing whackos that *want* the attention. Just like the guys who shot Lennon (John) and Reagan (Ron). Don't give it to them.<br><br>In the end, I don't know if I'm agreeing with you or not. I'm just saying, the DP is punishment. Punishment should be swift, firm, fair, andprivate.<br><br>Joel.

<p>I wish I had time for a complete discussion of the issue; alas, I don't. However, let me tap out a few quick ideas...</p><p>First, and I hope everyone really reads this statement and tries to understand what I mean...</p><p>I think all criminals should be <em>given the opportunity</em> to be fully accountable, and fully responsible, and make amends, for their crimes, and thevictims of their crimes.</p><p>Please think about that... it's the only way to try and salvage a tragic incident and turn it into something positive. There have been many beautifulstories of murderers who have made amends to the victim's surviving loved ones. I'm sorry, but I don't have time to find links / sources, etc. buttrust me, they are out there.<br><br>Another one to please, please, just <em>think</em> about....<br><br>Capital Punishment accomplishes nothing. It only piles another tragedy on top of tragedy. As Kitty correctly noted, it is NOT a deterrent - this has beenproven time and time again by criminologists.<br><br>The only thing CP serves is our reptilian desire for revenge.<br><br>And here's another one to, please, just toss around in your head for awhile...<br><br>There is no such thing as revenge; it is an illusion.<br><br>A bleeding heart liberal I am not. I am only one who is trying to make things work.<br><br>Greg</p>