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NJ Comm'n Recommends End to Death Penalty | 24 comments (24 topical)

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I would think DNA evidence ... (1.00 / 1) (#1)
by narius on Tue Jan 02, 2007 at 05:49:34 PM EST
actually STRENGTHEN the case for the death penalty.

Now, if you have mandatory DNA tests, at least in the case where such evidence exists, there will be NO MISTAKE of executing the wrong person.

That takes away the strongest argument against the death penalty.

Really? (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by scarshapedstar on Tue Jan 02, 2007 at 06:03:42 PM EST
That takes away the strongest argument against the death penalty.

Whatever happened to "Thou shall not kill"?

[ Parent ]

Perhaps (none / 0) (#5)
by aw on Tue Jan 02, 2007 at 06:55:06 PM EST
you're thinking of Harris County (Houston, TX) where the medical examiners DNA lab produced such shoddy work, they are reviewing thousands of cases (not just death penalty cases.)

[ Parent ]
In narius' mind (none / 0) (#6)
by Edger on Tue Jan 02, 2007 at 07:09:06 PM EST
moral arguments mean nothing, and are not strong enough to overcome certainty that someone was guilty. Guilty = "must die" in his world, even though he becomes a killer too. But he is still innocent... or something... ummm... well... or something.

[ Parent ]
"No mistake" (none / 0) (#9)
by scarshapedstar on Tue Jan 02, 2007 at 07:26:27 PM EST
You make an excellent point. Furthermore, despite prosecutors' love of phrases like "1 in ten trillion!" when talking about DNA evidence, it is not perfectly accurate.

As a biology student, I'm torn between feeling relieved that apparent conservatives are trusting science once again (although it'd be nice to get an official acknowledgement that people weren't riding dinosaurs through the Grand Canyon while the pyramids were being built) and a sinking feeling that, like Iraqi WMDs, it's just another throwaway rationale for the abominable practice of taking human life as a quick pick-me-up.

[ Parent ]

What ... (none / 0) (#20)
by narius on Tue Jan 02, 2007 at 09:56:08 PM EST
about it?

I don't believe in god nor the bible. Random killing is inefficient and undesirable. However, executing verified 100% guilty murderers, child killers and scums like that makes the world a better place.

And DNA evidence help to erase the little doubt that we may be executing innocent people.

BTW, someone makes a good point about shoddy lab work. May be law should be made to make sure labs are properly run or multiple lab to be used.

All of these will improve the death penalty and people's trust in the system executing only the right people.

[ Parent ]

Morality (5.00 / 1) (#23)
by Jen M on Tue Jan 02, 2007 at 11:54:30 PM EST
isnt just a religious trait.

A lack of moral however is kind of a trait of psychopaths

[ Parent ]

Every (4.00 / 1) (#21)
by aw on Tue Jan 02, 2007 at 09:58:31 PM EST
killing doesn't yield DNA evidence.

[ Parent ]
No (4.00 / 1) (#22)
by scarshapedstar on Tue Jan 02, 2007 at 11:44:43 PM EST
However, executing verified 100% guilty murderers, child killers and scums like that makes the world a better place.

I really don't see how it's any better than keeping them locked away forever. And I don't care if the victims demand retribution in the false hope that it will bring them relief. It's not their right to do so.

[ Parent ]

Why (none / 0) (#24)
by Edger on Wed Jan 03, 2007 at 12:04:07 AM EST
do you want them executed?

[ Parent ]

NJ Comm'n Recommends End to Death Penalty | 24 comments (24 topical)

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