"Capt. JG" wrote:


That sounds about right, and I'm opposed to the death penalty.

So am I.

Having actually been in an execution chamber gives you a whole
different perspective to the process.

It also is a lot less expensive to incarcerate some one for life than
it is to execute them.

Several states, including Texas, now have legislation pending to
eliminate the death penalty as a cost reduction.

Lew

"Lew Hodgett" wrote in news:amvEl.520$b11.241
@nwrddc02.gnilink.net:

Several states, including Texas, now have legislation pending to
eliminate the death penalty as a cost reduction.


Texas comedian Ron White is going to have to change his routine if that
happens. He says, "In most states, there eliminating the death penalty.
In Texas, we're puttin' in an EXPRESS LANE!"

In article ,
"Lew Hodgett" wrote:

"Capt. JG" wrote:


That sounds about right, and I'm opposed to the death penalty.

So am I.

Having actually been in an execution chamber gives you a whole
different perspective to the process.

Apart from sometimes condemning the wrong person.

It also is a lot less expensive to incarcerate some one for life than
it is to execute them.

Several states, including Texas, now have legislation pending to
eliminate the death penalty as a cost reduction.

Great news, even if for the wrong reason.

I believe it would be a strong signal for human rights to abolish
capital punishment in the US, as in any other country.

Marc

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http://www.heusser.com

On Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:52:39 +0200, Marc Heusser
d wrote:

I believe it would be a strong signal for human rights to abolish
capital punishment in the US, as in any other country.

Piracy is Federal, but there never has been much Federal death
penalty. Maybe thirty in 80 years. One hanging in Iowa in 1962, and
McVeigh who bombed that Federal Bldg. There was a soldier who hosed a
formation of marching men with a M-16 on death row. I don't know if
they have killed him yet. There are a few others waiting. They have
recently built a Federal death facility, they had been having the
nearest state kill people.

Casady

In article ,
Richard Casady wrote:

On Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:52:39 +0200, Marc Heusser
d wrote:

I believe it would be a strong signal for human rights to abolish
capital punishment in the US, as in any other country.

Piracy is Federal, but there never has been much Federal death
penalty. Maybe thirty in 80 years. One hanging in Iowa in 1962, and
McVeigh who bombed that Federal Bldg. There was a soldier who hosed a
formation of marching men with a M-16 on death row. I don't know if
they have killed him yet. There are a few others waiting. They have
recently built a Federal death facility, they had been having the
nearest state kill people.


Still, many states in the US have death penalty:
http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/FactSheet.pdf
3300 current inmates, 20 executiony this year up to now, more than half
of it in Texas.

It would help criticise governments such as China, where executions
abound, or islamistic states, if the US decided to abolish death penalty
altogether. There are good arguments against capital punishment in a
democratic state.

Do not get me wrong: In actual danger I'd value a hostage's life higher
than a pirate's anytime - and it is the pirate that provoked this.

I do hope Switzerland decides to send some elite troups to protect ships
as well.

Marc

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On Wed, 15 Apr 2009 07:48:06 +0200, Marc Heusser
d wrote:

I do hope Switzerland decides to send some elite troups to protect ships
as well.

I accused a Vatican guard with a halberd of having a pistol strapped
to his right thigh, inside those shorts, and he said he was left
handed.

Casady

Richard Casady wrote:
On Wed, 15 Apr 2009 07:48:06 +0200, Marc Heusser
d wrote:

I do hope Switzerland decides to send some elite troups to protect ships
as well.

I accused a Vatican guard with a halberd of having a pistol strapped
to his right thigh, inside those shorts, and he said he was left
handed.

Casady


Hehe...keep 'em coming!

Brian W

"Lew Hodgett" wrote in message
...
"Capt. JG" wrote:


That sounds about right, and I'm opposed to the death penalty.

So am I.

Having actually been in an execution chamber gives you a whole different
perspective to the process.

It also is a lot less expensive to incarcerate some one for life than it
is to execute them.

Leaving aside the arguments for and against the death penalty, how can it
possibly be more expensive to execute somebody than to keep him/her in
prison for life?

"Edgar" wrote:

Leaving aside the arguments for and against the death penalty, how
can it possibly be more expensive to execute somebody than to keep
him/her in prison for life?

Pure math.

Assume it costs $1,000/week to keep someone in prison.

That is $52,000/year.

To simplify the math, call it $60,000/year.

If you keep a person in jail 60 years the cost is:

(60years)*($60,000/year) = $3,600,000 lifetime.

The legal costs for a capital case including appeals far exceeds
$3,600,000.

Also the jail costs continue to accrue thus increasing costs while the
legal process continues.

The only people who make out are the lawyers.

Lew

"Lew Hodgett" wrote in message
...

"Edgar" wrote:

Leaving aside the arguments for and against the death penalty, how can
it possibly be more expensive to execute somebody than to keep him/her in
prison for life?

Pure math.

Assume it costs $1,000/week to keep someone in prison.

That is $52,000/year.

To simplify the math, call it $60,000/year.

If you keep a person in jail 60 years the cost is:

(60years)*($60,000/year) = $3,600,000 lifetime.

The legal costs for a capital case including appeals far exceeds
$3,600,000.

Also the jail costs continue to accrue thus increasing costs while the
legal process continues.

The only people who make out are the lawyers.

Lew


There is a flaw in that argument.
You have not taken into account the fact that there wll also be lawyers fees
for the guy who gets life in prison.
I agree that the lawyers win whichever route is taken but capital punishment
certainly reduces the cost to the taxpayer.