Arkansas Debates Death Penalty for Senior Murders

foxnews ^ | February 21, 2003

[Indy Pendance]

LITTLE ROCK

[Alberta's Child]

The bill would provide that a defendant convicted of capital murder in the death of a victim aged 62 or older could be condemned to death with no other aggravating circumstances.

So much for the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution. This has to be one of the dumbest proposed laws that I've ever heard of.

[ambrose]

So if you kill someone who is 61 1/2, you may not be eligible for the death penalty, but if you kill someone who is 62, you are. Okay.

[sheik yerbouty]

From the state that gave us Beelzebubba...

[billorites]

"So much for the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution. This has to be one of the dumbest proposed laws that I've ever heard of."

The list of dumb laws is mighty long. All the "hate crime" legislation is particularly egregious, IMHO.

On the other hand, it's easy to promote such nonsense if you hold the Constitution in complete disregard.

[Kuksool]

{So if you kill someone who is 61 1/2, you may not be eligible for the death penalty, but if you kill someone who is 62, you are. Okay. }

This is the rational behind hate crime laws. Some victims are more valuable than others.

[DeaconBenjamin]

The perp got the death penalty. What more did he want?

[Traffic_Can]

I've been known to lie 'bout my age just to get the senior discounts.

I'll just tell the killer that I'm too old to die...

[PistolPaknMama]

equal protection

Equal protection for who? The perp or the victim?

I'm sorry but there are some "classes" of people who deserve more protection. Just as an unborn child cannot escape the suctioning device of a "doctor's" equipment, elder folks cannot escape a 25 year old crazed gunman bent on killing.

[xm177e2]

How exactly is it worse to kill an old person? Can someone explain to me the difference?

[Alberta's Child]

Just as an unborn child cannot escape the suctioning device of a "doctor's" equipment, elder folks cannot escape a 25 year old crazed gunman bent on killing.

The only "special protection" that elderly people need to escape a 25 year-old crazed gunman bent on killing is a shotgun.

Your argument could just as easily be used to provide "special sentencing" guidelines for crime victims who are asthmatics, have heart trouble, didn't get enough sleep the night before, etc. Before you know it, we'll find that 100% of the U.S. population has a "disability" of some sort.

[StriperSniper]

Before you know it, we'll find that 100% of the U.S. population has a "disability" of some sort.

That seems to be the only way to get back to equal protection. :(

[Alberta's Child]

LOL!

[Indy Pendance]

A human is a human, regardless of what age they are. If Arkansas has the death penality, it must be for all. We are an equal opportunity country. This class society you mention is exactly the way liberals have manipulated your thinking process.

Tell your theory to a family of a 21 year old woman, brutally raped and murdered, that her killer will get life in prison. While the killer of a 72 year old who was shot at the mall because she wouldn't hand over her purse, gets the death sentence.

[TheBattman]

What exactly makes murdering a 67 year old person more "terrible" than murdering a 5 year old, a 20 year old, or a 40 year old?

Some people use their public office to use as their own personal soapbox.

What the Arkansas Legislators need to do is get past this stupid waste of time and get on to fixing the Education system. They are keeping the citizens in the dark - way too much back-room bribery/exchanges/negotiations for my taste. Unfortunately, between the ignorance of many legislators and the lazyness of others, I am afraid that they are going to just muck around and screw things up worse than they already are.

[PistolPaknMama]

Didn't mean to get y'all riled up. I should have included a /sarcasm?

This class society you mention is exactly the way liberals have manipulated your thinking process.

Ummmm.....hardly.

[Indy Pendance]

I'm really sorry, I didn't see the sarcasm.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Uhm, why is killing a 63 year old worse than killing a 61 year old. This is stupid.

[fightu4it]

Yes, indeed, why don't we let the politicians decide whos life is worth the death sentence if you take it. Sheeeeeesh, for crying out loud, a life is a life and anyone who takes on ought to be ready to forfeit his own. It's that damn simple.

[battlegearboat]

I'll get my exemption in nine more years.

You're all invited to the party.