The sentencing phase of the trial of the surviving Boston Marathon bomber has begun. What sentence should he receive?
My view on the death penalty, generally, is that although proportionality demands that it should be available in some rare cases, it is far too frequently awarded. That is particularly true in Texas and Oklahoma which between account for about half of all of the executions that have taken place in the U. S. over the period of the last 20 years.
This particular case might be one of those rare cases. However, I’m leaning against the death penalty because of the required appeals it would entail resulting in a lengthy dog and pony show.
What do you think?
I’m against the death penalty in all cases. The Europeans and many others get along fine without it, and State murder sets a bad example.
I would, however, feign support of the death penalty in order to practice jury nullification.
Life without parole.
I’m opposed to the death penalty on principle.
I support the death penalty, but want it be reserved for the rarest of cases, in which guilt is beyond question and the crimes are particularly heinous. Generally this would reduce it to serial killers and mass murderers. And I’d keep it as a mandatory sentence for anyone that kills a witness in order to avoid punishment for any crime. (That last has come up occasionally in recent years down here. Look up Bessman Okafor for an example of that.)
In this case, Tsarnaev meets my criteria, so I’d say execute him.
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Growing up in Florida has no doubt colored my views on this topic. We’ve had so many serial killers wander into the state that it’s hard for that to NOT have an impact on one’s views. The idea that just jailing someone puts and end to the danger is utter bullshit, as the case of Ted Bundy demonstrated. He got away from other jurisdictions, but he didn’t get away from Old Sparky. Score one for Florida, and a pox on lesser states out west.
Previous comment aside, I do think the worst penalty we mete out in our justice system is putting people in federal super max prisons. (I believe California may have one at the state level, but I’m too uninspired by the thought to look it up.)
I normally don’t support the death penalty. However, if the appeal process could be bypassed I think this man deserves it for all the grief and pain he inflicted randomly on others.
I have come to oppose it. We have been wrong too many times, and it costs too much.
Steve
I’m opposed to the death penalty on principle.
Put me down for opposing the death penalty on principle as well.
Lifelong confinement in an 8 x 10 cell with Maria Harf without chance for death.
Life without parole, but put him in the general population, no protective confinement.