The Death Penalty in Louisiana • Hacker News Board

Re: The Death Penalty in Louisiana

#21

Post by CaptainZapp » Wed, Jul 01, 2015, 1:38 PM UTC

sageabilly wrote: post #13

"Cox does not believe that the death penalty works as a deterrent, but he says that it is justified as revenge." That is so, so fucked up. An attorney, someone whose job it is to impartially argue the law, equally to everyone, saying "Yeah you know, we kill people FOR REVENGE ." Not even, you know, hey if we have the death penalty it'll maybe make people think twice about committing a serious crime, but straight up s…

Cox is an assistant DA not a judge.

Which, in my book, does not excuse his attitude at all.

Re: The Death Penalty in Louisiana

#22

Post by KineticLensman » Wed, Jul 01, 2015, 1:39 PM UTC

sschueller wrote: post #9

Why does the US use a complex 3 injection cocktail? In countries where assisted suicide is legal people just swallow a pill and go peacefully to sleep. Yet in the US there is this "crisis" of not being abel to source the injections needed. Pets are also put down very easily with a single injection which makes them go to sleep and the heart beats slower and slower until it stops in a few minutes.

Some drug companies / jurisdictions don't allow drugs to be used in ways that they consider unethical

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lethal_injection

Re: The Death Penalty in Louisiana

#23

Post by seivan » Wed, Jul 01, 2015, 1:39 PM UTC

ablation wrote: post #14

No matter how many times I read about the death penalty in America, I just can't wrap my head around the fact that it still exists, that the powers that be kill their own citizens in such a way. It's so incredibly horrifying to me that it almost becomes an abstract concept, but then you read an article like this and - guilty or innocent - the true human cost and all that associated suffering comes right back to you.

What do you suggest in regards for money being spent on containing people who have zero chance on rehabilitation?

Sweden can't afford cancer medication for certain people, but has no issues containing violent sadists.

http://www.svd.se/effektiv-cancermedicin-anvands-inte http://www.sydsvenskan.se/skane/hon-fick-ny-cancermedicin-ut...

Some people in the middle east tortured children, women and committed other atrocities while laughing and recording it.

Whats your take on that?

Re: The Death Penalty in Louisiana

#24

Post by icebraining » Wed, Jul 01, 2015, 1:40 PM UTC

gadders wrote: post #16

tokenadult wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yet in the US there is this "crisis" of not being abel to source the injections needed. Many medical doctors (persons with legal authority to prescribe drugs) and pharmacists (persons with legal authority to dispense drugs) object to capital punishment, and thus will not supply prisons with drugs that have the sole purpose of killing someone.

So they wouldn't supply medication for assisted suicide either? Also, allowing people to opt out on supplying the drug on matters of conscience is a slippery slope. What about letting people opt-out of providing abortions? Or marrying gay couples? A case could made for people refusing to do these as matters of conscience as well.

Multiple countries allow doctors to refuse to perform abortions.

Re: The Death Penalty in Louisiana

#25

Post by CaptainZapp » Wed, Jul 01, 2015, 1:40 PM UTC

Shivetya wrote: post #17

The death penalty isn't the problem and never has. There are far too many people who have no place in society and there is zero benefit to society to continue their existence. That being said, abuse by the legal system of those who cannot afford to defend themselves properly has gone on for far too long and its not just a Southern thing. From the bail bond market to the plea bargain junket of Federal Courts, justice…

  The death penalty isn't the problem and never has. There are far too many people who have no place in society and there is zero benefit to society to continue their existence.

And who exactly decides which people have no place in society to begin with?

The jury system seems badly flawed and the whole system seems badly stacked against minorities. Especially blacks and latinos.

Re: The Death Penalty in Louisiana

#26

Post by ablation » Wed, Jul 01, 2015, 1:40 PM UTC

seivan wrote: post #23

ablation wrote: post #14

No matter how many times I read about the death penalty in America, I just can't wrap my head around the fact that it still exists, that the powers that be kill their own citizens in such a way. It's so incredibly horrifying to me that it almost becomes an abstract concept, but then you read an article like this and - guilty or innocent - the true human cost and all that associated suffering comes right back to you.

What do you suggest in regards for money being spent on containing people who have zero chance on rehabilitation? Sweden can't afford cancer medication for certain people, but has no issues containing violent sadists. http://www.svd.se/effektiv-cancermedicin-anvands-inte http://www.sydsvenskan.se/skane/hon-fick-ny-cancermedicin-ut... Some people in the middle east tortured children, women and committed other atrociti…

I have no take on it.

Re: The Death Penalty in Louisiana

#27

Post by seivan » Wed, Jul 01, 2015, 1:40 PM UTC

Justsignedup wrote: post #20

Shivetya wrote: post #17

The death penalty isn't the problem and never has. There are far too many people who have no place in society and there is zero benefit to society to continue their existence. That being said, abuse by the legal system of those who cannot afford to defend themselves properly has gone on for far too long and its not just a Southern thing. From the bail bond market to the plea bargain junket of Federal Courts, justice…

The death penalty is a problem: - it never really acts as a deterrent - often the person on death row is basically in solitary confinement. So even if they are released, they are released crazy - the penalty is quite final. there is no appealing afterwards - it is mostly about revenge - ripe with abuse

Seems to work in Singapore, look at their crime stats.

Re: The Death Penalty in Louisiana

#28

Post by tP5n » Wed, Jul 01, 2015, 1:40 PM UTC

gadders wrote: post #16

tokenadult wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yet in the US there is this "crisis" of not being abel to source the injections needed. Many medical doctors (persons with legal authority to prescribe drugs) and pharmacists (persons with legal authority to dispense drugs) object to capital punishment, and thus will not supply prisons with drugs that have the sole purpose of killing someone.

So they wouldn't supply medication for assisted suicide either? Also, allowing people to opt out on supplying the drug on matters of conscience is a slippery slope. What about letting people opt-out of providing abortions? Or marrying gay couples? A case could made for people refusing to do these as matters of conscience as well.

No, it's not a slope. Gay marriage and the death penalty are two very different things and I can't believe I'm typing this out.

There also numerous reasons to be against the death penalty but not abortions, but something tells me I'd rather not have this discussion here and now [1].

[1] for what it's worth, an example not related but relevant: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9770221

Re: The Death Penalty in Louisiana

#29

Post by seivan » Wed, Jul 01, 2015, 1:41 PM UTC

Shivetya wrote: post #17

The death penalty isn't the problem and never has. There are far too many people who have no place in society and there is zero benefit to society to continue their existence. That being said, abuse by the legal system of those who cannot afford to defend themselves properly has gone on for far too long and its not just a Southern thing. From the bail bond market to the plea bargain junket of Federal Courts, justice…

Not a popular stance, but I agree with you. As a Swede I'd want the death penalty.

Then again, currently Sweden (all of Scandinavia) is on the extreme but on the other side.

Re: The Death Penalty in Louisiana

#30

Post by scrrr » Wed, Jul 01, 2015, 1:41 PM UTC

ablation wrote: post #14

No matter how many times I read about the death penalty in America, I just can't wrap my head around the fact that it still exists, that the powers that be kill their own citizens in such a way. It's so incredibly horrifying to me that it almost becomes an abstract concept, but then you read an article like this and - guilty or innocent - the true human cost and all that associated suffering comes right back to you.

Having the death penalty also seems to be a very un-Christian thing. Relevant, if a large portion of the population define themselves as Christians.