Death penalty for the mentally ill?

[wyomingosualum]

I was listening to the radio today while running errands in town when the news came on at the top of the hour. I heard Cruz’ defense attorney say that Cruz has been mentally ill his entire life.

My question for you all is do you support the death penalty for cases involving mentally ill defendants?

Personally, I say bring back the electric chair for this guy. But that’s just me. What about you guys?

 

[JimmyBob]

Gurney and juice, but only semi-lethal injections.

 

[long-duc-dong]

Razor blades and lemons.

 

[OKSTATE1]

I am neither for or against the death penalty, I believe each State has a right to establish the law and I will respect the will of the people, and people can avoid the punishment if they do not break the law. If a State does have the law, I am not for executing the mentally ill that do not understand the gravity of their actions.

I also believe executions should be televised, I say this because perhaps if they were televised it would change people's opinion on the punishment. We should be transparent, we should not hide this from society if we believe it is a moral and just punishment. I know some sickos would have watch parties, but if the government is in the business of taking lives make it public to insure the public is ok with this punishment. If we can not televise it, perhaps would should not be doing it.

 

[SMemmett]

I don't like a state with the power to execute.

But it doesn't anger or have much effect on me when it does happen.

 

[poke2001]

I’m against the death penalty. I’ve seen the state wrongly convict too many people.

 

[Medic007]

Personally, I say bring back the electric chair for this guy. But that’s just me. What about you guys?

First graders and safety scissors. It might take a while.

 

[imprimis]

Personally, I say bring back the electric chair for this guy. But that’s just me. What about you guys?

Keel haul him under a slow moving aircraft carrier off the coast of South Africa in the middle of Great White feeding.

 

[purkey]

not a fan of the death penalty. It looks like this kid has been an issue for a while. Did I hear his dad who adopted him died and then his adoptive mother died and he was living with some friend? They both died all in the past year or sooner. Anyway, just a shitty situation for everyone with no relief for anyone. Kid can only die once. I have not been watching much as I am already sick of hearing everything. Just getting bits and pieces. This one may get some changes to come about...but I have no idea of a way to solve it. If I had a child in jr. high or high school I don't know if I'd want them to be sitting duck. How many armed guards would it take to cover...say John Marshall hs in okc. 20? hell, we can't pay teachers so where will the money come from to pay the guards...MAPS 4?

 

[CowboyJD]

I don't like a state with the power to execute.

But it doesn't anger or have much effect on me when it does happen.

I’m against the death penalty. I’ve seen the state wrongly convict too many people.

I am against the death penalty as public policy. I don’t believe it is a deterrent. Don’t want the state to have the power to execute. I know that juries sometimes get it wrong even in death penalty cases.

At the same time, I struggle with that because I know that there are individuals out there that are the functional equivalent of rabid mad dogs. I’ve dealt with some of them in my work through the years in my work. The sane thing to do with rabid mad dogs is get rid of them for good...humanely and as quickly as possible, but permanently.

 

[poke2001]

I am against the death penalty as public policy. I don’t believe it is a deterrent. Don’t want the state to have the power to execute. I know that juries sometimes get it wrong even in death penalty cases.

At the same time, I struggle with that because I know that there are individuals out there that are the functional equivalent of rabid mad dogs. I’ve dealt with some of them in my work through the years in my work. The sane thing to do with rabid mad dogs is get rid of them for good...humanely and as quickly as possible, but permanently.

I’m with you on that. Judicial system does get it right MOST of the time, and some certainly provide no value to keep alive.

 

[aix_xpert]

not a fan of the death penalty. It looks like this kid has been an issue for a while. Did I hear his dad who adopted him died and then his adoptive mother died and he was living with some friend? They both died all in the past year or sooner. Anyway, just a shitty situation for everyone with no relief for anyone. Kid can only die once. I have not been watching much as I am already sick of hearing everything. Just getting bits and pieces. This one may get some changes to come about...but I have no idea of a way to solve it. If I had a child in jr. high or high school I don't know if I'd want them to be sitting duck. How many armed guards would it take to cover...say John Marshall hs in okc. 20? hell, we can't pay teachers so where will the money come from to pay the guards...MAPS 4?

He was adopted. His adoptive father died when he was 4 and his mother died this past winter from the flu and yes, he lived with some friend the past few months. As for the OP question, he should be executed. He was clearly mentally stable enough to premeditate this action. He even posted on social media that he wanted to be a professional school shooter.

As for what I'd do to stop these events: I'd make 2 changes:

1) Lock the doors. How in the world are the outside doors of the school unlocked during the school day? Its not a place where people should 'come & go' all day. And all visitors should be known and acknowledged upon entry. This guy WASN'T a current student. Yet was able to walk in prior to the end of the school day and enter the 2 and 3rd floors without interruption.

2) Allow the concealed carry or arming of select teachers/administrators. This kid shot no telling how many rounds, then basically walked out in the confusion. And not one adult in a 10 minute radius had an ability to defend him or herself.

 

[squeak]

CSCOTTOSUPOKES is against this for obvious reasons.

 

[EvilPOKES]

One by one, pull each toenail off. wait a couple hours and do the finger nails. Hang by arms and let feet touch water, shock said water repeatedly .

 

[Breastman]

Serious question.....do schools have the same security seen in modern offices and corporations? At work, I'm constantly scanning in from one room to the next. It's like a minimum security prison up there. Why don't schools go this route?

 

[AC_Exotic]

Serious question.....do schools have the same security seen in modern offices and corporations? At work, I'm constantly scanning in from one room to the next. It's like a minimum security prison up there. Why don't schools go this route?

$

 

[aix_xpert]

Serious question.....do schools have the same security seen in modern offices and corporations? At work, I'm constantly scanning in from one room to the next. It's like a minimum security prison up there. Why don't schools go this route?

You can't expect kids to take care of their badges and such like you do adults so its not real feasible. But we don't even lock the doors of our school buildings which I don't get.

 

[CowboyPhil]

My daughter's elementary is locked and you have to be buzzed in by camera.

My son jr high I'm not sure about but there is a security station by front entrance.

 

[OKSTATE1]

My daughter's elementary is locked and you have to be buzzed in by camera.

My son jr high I'm not sure about but there is a security station by front entrance.

Problem is rifle against a pistol is a mismatch.

 

[anon_xl72qcu5isp39]

I can't decide. No citizen should get executed as long as the system is so flawed, but there's also some criminals that just need put down. And so we put them in the one place they'll enjoy and thrive in: prison. Ugh. Somebody let me know when they get it figured out.