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westcoastdog · Apr 11, 2006, 10:50 pm

Since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated capital punishment in 1976, there have been approximately 600,000 homicides, about 20,000 annually. Since 1977, when executions resumed, the 1000th execution occurred on December 2, 2005. This means a murderer has less than a 1% chance of facing execution. A reasonable person would conclude that capital punishment is more fiction than fact.

Who are the ones executed? As usual, the underclass, the poor, and, according to one study, the ugly. When I was in high school in the 50s, my social science teacher informed us that California has never executed a rich man, and 50 years later, his observation is still true. Because of his wealth, I knew that O.J. would have never been sentenced to death if he were found guilty. Has a rich person ever been executed for murder in your state? In any state?

BTW, life imprisonment is far cheaper than capital punishment. Reason: prison guards are a lot cheaper than lawyers.

Since so few murderers are executed, I suggest we abandon the fiction of capital punishment, as most of the modern nations of world. 99+% already die of other causes.

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Apr 11, 2006, 10:50 pm	#1 (permalink) (top)
westcoastdog Igneous Magma Posts: 416	The fiction of capital punishment Since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated capital punishment in 1976, there have been approximately 600,000 homicides, about 20,000 annually. Since 1977, when executions resumed, the 1000th execution occurred on December 2, 2005. This means a murderer has less than a 1% chance of facing execution. A reasonable person would conclude that capital punishment is more fiction than fact. Who are the ones executed? As usual, the underclass, the poor, and, according to one study, the ugly. When I was in high school in the 50s, my social science teacher informed us that California has never executed a rich man, and 50 years later, his observation is still true. Because of his wealth, I knew that O.J. would have never been sentenced to death if he were found guilty. Has a rich person ever been executed for murder in your state? In any state? BTW, life imprisonment is far cheaper than capital punishment. Reason: prison guards are a lot cheaper than lawyers. Since so few murderers are executed, I suggest we abandon the fiction of capital punishment, as most of the modern nations of world. 99+% already die of other causes. .