Posted on 07/26/2010 11:48:46 AM PDT by nickcarraway
Forget the death penalty, which is nearly a dead letter already.
The impending parole of 77-year-old Henry Michael Gargano after 43 years in federal prison for murdering Northlake policemen John Nagel and Anthony Sperri should spur a serious examination of the need to abolish life sentences. The U.S. Parole Commission has set Gargano's release for Sept. 3, citing his model behavior over the past 10 years, advanced age, poor health and little likelihood of engaging in criminal behavior. Opponents of Gargano's release include Officer Nagle's son, the deputy Northlake police chief and 6,000 supporters who signed petitions.
Gargano's incarceration has achieved the primary purpose of severe sentencing: removal of a violent monster from further opportunity to prey on society.
But needless continued imprisonment of hollow shells of one-time offenders should not be held hostage to relatives, colleagues or friends of victims decades later. If you asked what would really quench their thirst for justice, most might want to get the offender alone in a room and rip him apart. While that is understandable, it is not within the scope of the criminal justice system to authorize.
The lifelong warehousing of physically and mentally broken down old men shouldn't be as well.
Sounds like an argument for the death penalty to me.
Firing squad works for me.
Yes, abolish life sentences and replace them with the death penalty.
Hang him high.
The answer: no.
“model behavior over the past 10 years” - Doesn’t matter. it was his behavior 43 years ago that counts.
“advanced age” - it is LIFE in prison. that includes when the prisoner is old.
“poor health” - His health is better than his victims.
“little likelihood of engaging in criminal behavior” - so what. He is in jail for what he has done, not what he might do...
This movement has been underway for at least 20 years.
Violent offenders with life sentences should serve them.
“The lifelong warehousing of physically and mentally broken down old men shouldn’t be as well.”
Being “physically and mentally broken down” doesn’t change anything, and damn sure doesn’t bring their victims back.
Under NO circumstances should they be released (whatever happened to the Lockerbie bomber anyway? Has he died yet?)
I like the cyanide capsule solution.
They should mean life.
YES. Bullets are cheaper.
I hear there are plenty of ice floes in the Arctic
There was an article here awhile back, probably about a year or so ago, where a guy was sentenced to prison for molesting more than one child. He was in his 70’s when he wnt to prison. He was released in his 80’s because he wasn’t a threat and within months of his release, he was back in jail for molesting some of his young relatives.
If it's life without parole theya re now tryign to circumvent.., then it would be interesting to cite the arguments of those who oppose the death penalty..they often state that life behind bars is WORSE than the death penalty..
Yes,a life sentence for killing a cop should be abolished.A date with Ole Sparky should take its place.
It’s thinking like this the let a perfectly healthy terrorist walk scot free from a jail in Scotland to a hero’s welcome back home in Libya.
I agree. Why should I have to support some scumbag for the rest of his sorry life if he is never going to see the light of day again? Save my money.
The author just set the bar for Idiot Of The Week and even though it’s Monday I don’t think he’s gonna be topped.
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