Teresa Lewis

[davy]

So, how does everybody feel about killing a woman with an IQ barely above that of a German Shepherd?

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by davy

So, how does everybody feel about killing a woman with an IQ barely above that of a German Shepherd?

Good. She hired people to kill others. If she's smart enough to do that, she's smart enough to know it's wrong. And she's dangerous enough of a human being for me to feel not the least bit bad about seeing her die.

[Chico23231]

im a little bothered by the fact the triggermen both got off with life and there was sufficient evidence she was manipulated by a co-conspirator/triggerman into the "plot." there is no doubt she is guilty and to say she doesnt know right from wrong and didnt know the consequences is absurb.

The topic of death penalty is very interesting, but to argue its a deterrent for crime is an effing joke. Dont bring that garbage

[over the mountain]

I generally agree with you Chico with regards to the death penalty as not being a deterrent to murder. Anyone who does an act of murder that would rise to the level of a death penalty case such as "hostage-rape-then murder" situation is so far beyond a reasonable state of mind and thinking that the thought that they might be the death penalty would not enter their decision making process and act as a deterrent before they commit the act.

That being said, in the situaiton of "murder for hire" or "contract killing" i think the death penalty may have a deterrent in that the person doing the hiring isnt the crazed lunatic murderer but someone who is showing reasonable and calculated thoughts in how to commit murder without getting caught and without having the ability to kill another person.

In short, i dont think crazed rapist lunatic killers are deterred by the death penalty as they clearly have no reasonable thought but it is a deterrent to someone who is calculating, methodical and in hiring another to kill shows signs of reasonable thought to which the thought of the death penalty may deter them from actually acting.

But there are 2 types of deterrrents considered for criminal crimes.

One is general deterrent - someone who is considering on hiring someone to kill their husband and child may hear this news and be deterred from following through.

The second is specific detterent - you put a murdered to death, that specific murder will never murder again. although imo specific deterrent shouldnt really be considered in death penalty cases, it should be applied to crimes like DUI etc where if you punish someone hard enough the 1st or 2nd time on a DUI, that specific driver may be deterred from driving drunk in the future.

either way, isnt anyone who can kill another human being mentally incompetent? The act alone is evidence of crazy.

[firstdown]

Problem with the death penality is that they allow it to drag on too long. If your 100% sure they did the crime then convict them and fry them while its still news. I don't even remember this case so how does it act as a deterrent.

[saden1]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Good. She hired people to kill others. If she's smart enough to do that, she's smart enough to know it's wrong. And she's dangerous enough of a human being for me to feel not the least bit bad about seeing her die.

what he said....put her down!

[over the mountain]

Originally Posted by firstdown

Problem with the death penality is that they allow it to drag on too long. If your 100% sure they did the crime then convict them and fry them while its still news. I don't even remember this case so how does it act as a deterrent.

if someone is currently thinking of hiring someone to kill their spouse, reading today's news may deter them from going thru with it.

[MTK]

If someone is crazy enough to actually consider hiring someone to off someone, I doubt a newspaper headline is going to really deter them all that much.

[Hog1]

Does anybody think that the threat of punishment (through our justice system) up to and including death for a crime you might commit is.....NOT a deterrant?

[Chico23231]

Originally Posted by over the mountain

if someone is currently thinking of hiring someone to kill their spouse, reading today's news may deter them from going thru with it.

your post above was cool, good stuff to think about. And the posting about "news headlines" not really what my post was about, but think you got that with the response. General topic of crime and punishment.

[Chico23231]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

If someone is crazy enough to actually consider hiring someone to off someone, I doubt a newspaper headline is going to really deter them all that much.

lol, ya think

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by Hog1

Does anybody think that the threat of punishment (through our justice system) up to and including death for a crime you might commit is.....NOT a deterrant?

Well by what I see for some people its not. Our system is way too soft.

[Hog1]

Originally Posted by firstdown

Well by what I see for some people its not. Our system is way too soft.

I would concede there are those that cannot be brought back to sanity by any means known. You got your serial killers, mental defectives......Democrats
But for the rest, the threat of punishment keeps all of us from doing all kinds of unlawful stuff.

[saden1]

The death penalty is not a good deterrent...the numbers just don't support any claim that it is. If you want to deter people from committing heinous crimes combat poverty and invest more in education.

Some people just deserve to be murked...we just need to admit that to ourselves so we can stop pretending the death penalty is about justice and as means to deter others...it's pure unadulterated eye-poking revenge.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by Hog1

I would concede there are those that cannot be brought back to sanity by any means known. You got your serial killers, mental defectives......Democrats
But for the rest, the threat of punishment keeps all of us from doing all kinds of unlawful stuff.

I don't know if I agree with that. I think the vast majority of people don't do unlawful stuff because we know it's wrong -- you know, the Golden Rule. I wouldn't steal from someone not because I might get locked up, but because I wouldn't want anyone stealing from me.

I guess it all depends upon your outlook of human nature. I think most people are generally good.