Pope Francis says the death penalty should be abolished in US.

This is probably the only issue where I agree with the Pope.

Government can't even get a web page built after spending $600 million dollars, and we're supposed to trust these people to decide who lives and dies? Nope.

DiscoGary wrote:

This is probably the only issue where I agree with the Pope.

Government can't even get a web page built after spending $600 million dollars, and we're supposed to trust these people to decide who lives and dies? Nope.

It's the people, not the government who decides who lives and who dies.

But I'm with you in that this is one the of the few things I agree with this pope on. Far better than the last few with which I had virtually no agreement.

DiscoGary wrote:

This is probably the only issue where I agree with the Pope.

How so?

I strongly disagree with the Pope on this matter. The death penalty needs to be used on individuals convicted of capital murder.

Next Wednesday, the Commonwealth of Virginia puts to death Alfredo R. Pietro, who has been convicted of three and identified as the primary suspect in at least six other murders committed in two states (California and then Virginia) twenty -two years ago.

Absolute monster. He raped some of his victims as they bled to death beneath him. He was on death row for raping and murdering a 15 year pld girl in California when his dna was identified from evidence at cold cases in Virginia.

http://murderpedia.org/male.P/p/prieto-alfredo.htm

The same can be said of individuals before him, like beltway sniper John Allen Muhammad.

Do you also agree with him on banning abortion?

Sounds great wrote:

Sounds good. Just make sure it's abolished after all the Catholic Priest pedophiles have been executed.

Not sure if you haven't read the REAL opinion of Pope Francis about Catholic Priest pedophiles. But if you're watching Fox News 24/7, this link should help my argument:

its much cheaper to incarcerate for life...

Killing people to show that killing people is wrong is right?

Interesting that only one person on this thread has defended the death penalty. I thought it was more popular than that.

For the record, I believe that only God should decide who lives and who dies. The rest of us don't have the wisdom to make such a decision.

Well a few states have recently taken the death penalty away. Others have effectively done the same thing either by not seeking it or juries not imposing it.

Colorado is a prime example of the latter: if the movie theatre shooter cannot be sentenced to death then who would be?

I wonder if liberals who hate the death penalty are calling for the white shooter at the black church to be executed.

As for me, I think it serves a role not as a deterrent but by giving the DA some more leverage in plea bargaining. If the accused helps or pleads guilty and avoids a trial then the death penalty is off the table.

However, I also think there are people that were put to death who were not guilty of that crime and probable some on death row now who did not commit the crime they were convicted of. The DNA project has shown a startling high number IMHO of people wrongly convicted.

DiscoGary wrote:

This is probably the only issue where I agree with the Pope.

Government can't even get a web page built after spending $600 million dollars, and we're supposed to trust these people to decide who lives and dies? Nope.

I'd rather trust the government with my healthcare than Kaiser Permanente. I would rather trust either with my healthcare than you with an assault weapon.

Incidentally, you already do trust the government with you life. It is called the police force and the army.

It's the cold-bloode murders who are the real victims here. They need our sympathy and our support. Let's stick it to the man and free them all.

Libtart wrote:

It's the cold-bloode murders who are the real victims here. They need our sympathy and our support. Let's stick it to the man and free them all.

You are also a victim my friend. Of a failing education system in this country.

Sounds great wrote: Sounds good. Just make sure it's abolished after all the Catholic Priest pedophiles have been executed.

Come on, now. It's against the laws of that religion to allow its men of the cloth to actually be brought to justice. It's so much more godly and forgiving to simply shuffle them around an enable their sick behavior.

Fat hurts wrote:

Interesting that only one person on this thread has defended the death penalty. I thought it was more popular than that.

For the record, I believe that only God should decide who lives and who dies. The rest of us don't have the wisdom to make such a decision.

I will be the second to believe in the death penalty. Any monster evil enough to rape torture murder woman and children should be put to death. I have faith in our legal system.

Fat hurts wrote:

Interesting that only one person on this thread has defended the death penalty. I thought it was more popular than that.

For the record, I believe that only God should decide who lives and who dies. The rest of us don't have the wisdom to make such a decision.

I have no difficulty defending the death penalty. I have been to some trials, appeals hearings and even executions of murderers. I believe it is an appropriate societal response to crimes of premeditated capital murder.

yes

and the Boston bomber as well

the death penalty may or may not be an effective deterrent to others but

it is legal and appropriate in some cases

the Pope can say whatever he wants, he was just a man before he became Pope, is still just a man, one that has many detractors within the Vatican, what he says or thinks is up to him, Americans are free to come to their own conclusions

Apparently the Pope had no problem with Argentina's military junta dirty war and their death squads, but wants to preach to America:

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/345925

unclean hands

switek wrote:

I have been to some trials, appeals hearings and even executions of murderers.

Why (even on LRC) would someone lie about this stuff?

that's cool. So is he going to pay the bill for kepping these a-holes alive, buying them macbooks and ipads, taking them deep sea fishing, paying for their therapy??? Or are we going to have to pay for it??? That is what I thought. Oh you murdered my family - let me just go work a little harder so you can enjoy a stress-free life. Prisons are like summer camp now. The pope and Obama are both a joke