Death Sentence Imposed on DC Sniper John Muhammed

http://www.foxnews.com ^ | 11/24/2003 | Fox News

[Catspaw]

The decision of the jury will be announced within 15 minutes.

[bvw]

.

[TomGuy]

That's wipe the silly grin off Malvo's face, too!

2 count:



10 years on another count.

[little jeremiah]

Cheering!! Applause!! Thanks, jury, you done your job and done it well!

(I am not bloodthirsty. Death penalty is actually mercy for those who deserve it. And in the Manu Samhita if a person commits a capital crime and the head of government doesn't execute him, the government is at fault and reaps bad karma (=sin).

YAAAYY!
Now if only punishment was swift.

[TomGuy]

[CatoRenasci]

While in principle the death penalty doesn't trouble me, I guess I can understand generally disliking the death penalty, especially given some of the uncertainties that surround its application.

However, I cannot understand the absolutist position any more than I can understand the absolutist position on abortion: the world is just messier than that, and sometimes we do some things that might not be the morally ideal because the alternatives are morally more reprehensible. It seems to me that sometimes there are individuals who put themselves so far beyond the pale of tolerable behavior -- even tolerable criminality (tolerable in the sense that the punishment for it is limited) that they cannot be permitted to ever possibliy prey on society again. For me that militates for execution: it is certain and it avoids subsidizing the animal's existence. When we as a society face choices about the use of resources, I'm not willing to spend significant sums to house, feed and guard truly dangerous criminals. No one made them do the crime. I suppose an exaggerated sense of fairness might dictate announcing a head of time that murderers (without extenuating circumstances) would after a date certain no longer be tolerated, but the death penalty has been on the books and the criminals knew it was there.

[mhking]

[gridlock]

Death

Yup. Like I said, I'm having a hard time getting worked up about this.

Tough cases make lousy law.

[The Mayor]

I am Proud of the Judical System in Virginia and Jerry Kilgore.

When I spoke to him last year he said that Ashcroft assured him that the first trial would be in Virginia and he would definitley persue DEATH!

Congrats to him, he will be the next Governor of Va.

[Catspaw]

Thank God. My relatives in the DC area where hoping for the death penalty for Muhammed--and for Malvo.

[mhking]

[mhking]

One down, one to go.

Just damn.

If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[Blue Screen of Death]

He's gone. Bush has already granted one turkey a pardon this week.

[Catspaw]

Please change the title of this thread to "Death Sentence Imposed on DC Sniper John Muhammed" (or something like that).

[rs79bm]

death.

[Corin Stormhands]

Unfortunately, all too often life in prison is 20 years.

Virginia abolished parole under Governor George Allen. I don't think there are any circumstances where he could get out.

[Peach]

I hadn't realized that about Virginia.

However, a new Governor could have just as easily changed it back.

[hispanarepublicana]

What's the scene in the courtroom? What's the reaction from Muhammed? DETAILS, please!

[Catspaw]

My relatives in the area--for good reason--were terrified during Muhammed and Malvo's rampage.

Now I hope they ship them down to Alabama for trial next.

[gridlock]

For me that militates for execution: it is certain and it avoids subsidizing the animal's existence....

'Cept he's not really an animal, is he?

I guess one could make an argument like military necessity, like we would have to kill Osama bin Laden because he is too dangerous to let live. But short of that, spending the money and applying the technology necessary to safely confine somebody for life doesn't seem too high a price to pay.

And, of course, life means life. In on your feet, out in a box,... life.

[Catspaw]

No details yet--except Pete Williams (MSNBC) said Muhammed was "stoic" when the sentence was read. They're going to have a press conference in a few minutes.