Author Topic: Texas shouldn’t be proud that it’s become ‘Executions ‘R’ Us’  (Read 2207 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Online Elderberry

  • TBR Contributor
  • *****
  • Posts: 24,281
Houston Chronicle By The Editorial Board Dec. 22, 2018

Pride in our state’s exceptional history and traditions related to the Old West may help explain Texans’ clinging to some practices that should be consigned to the state’s past. That includes the death penalty, which continues to be carried out more frequently in Texas than anywhere else in America.

In fact, this year Texas reversed course from the national trend it had been following and executed 13 people; which was more than the 12 executions that occurred in the rest of the United States. Seven people were put to death in Texas in both 2016 and 2017.

After nearly 18 years in prison and numerous appeals, Joseph Garcia was executed Dec. 4 at the Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville. Garcia was one of the “Texas Seven” inmates convicted of murder in the Christmas Eve 2000 slaying of a North Texas police officer during their escape attempt.

With 224 inmates currently on death row in Texas, a 25-year low, more executions appear certain to follow Garcia’s. Less certain is what those executions will accomplish other than removing those executed from society — a goal that could be achieved just as well and less expensively by life sentences.

The cost leading to an execution, including appeals and incarceration, easily exceeds $1 million; compared with less than $700,000 to keep an inmate in prison for 40 years.

Of course, money isn’t the most important reason for Texas to reconsider capital punishment. With DNA testing and other improved evidence collection methods, it is now indisputable that sometimes the wrong person is sentenced to death.

More: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/Texas-shouldn-t-be-proud-that-it-s-become-13482190.php

Offline IsailedawayfromFR

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 18,746
What we really need to do is more executions.  No reason to keep some on death row such a long time.

No punishment, in my opinion, is too great, for the man who can build his greatness upon his country's ruin~  George Washington

Online Wingnut

  • That is the problem with everything. They try and make it better without realizing the old is fine.
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 26,279
  • Gender: Male
In Texas, we have the death penalty and we use it. If you come to Texas and kill somebody, we will kill you back.
I am just a Technicolor Dream Cat riding this kaleidoscope of life.

Offline InHeavenThereIsNoBeer

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4,127
The cost leading to an execution, including appeals and incarceration, easily exceeds $1 million; compared with less than $700,000 to keep an inmate in prison for 40 years.

Fun with math.

According to the latest (2016) national figures from the Census Bureau, Americans spend $11,762 per year on public education for each pupil.  According to this article, Texas spends $17,500 per year to keep an inmate in prison (it says less than, but let's just go with that number for now).

At six hours a day, nine months a year, and five days a week, that works out to $10.03/hr to keep an inmate a child in public schools.  At 24x365, $2.00/hr to keep an inmate in prison.
My avatar shows the national debt in stacks of $100 bills.  If you look very closely under the crane you can see the Statue of Liberty.

Oceander

  • Guest
How many innocents has Texas killed?  Isn’t killing an innocent murder?

Offline Victoria33

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7,457
  • Gender: Female
How many innocents has Texas killed?  Isn’t killing an innocent murder?
@Oceander
@mystery-ak 

Texas prisoner executions happen in Huntsville, TX.  I lived near there and weekly went to the beauty shop and bought groceries there.

My road to Huntsville, took me into Huntsville downtown square.  Before I got to the square, I would pass the Huntsville prison.  I went to the beauty shop, then stopped at a near Walgreens drug store on the street I came in on.  There was a policeman standing at the door.  He asked me where I was going to go after the drugstore.  Told him going to the grocery (that is also on that street). 

He told me there was going to be an execution and the Black Panthers were in town due to it being a black man being executed.   He said they are going into stores and causing trouble - the entire city square was shut down including the banks. He told me to go straight to the grocery and not go in if I saw any of them outside the store, quickly buy the groceries and go around the town to go back home - do not go the way I came in which goes in front of the prison. 

Huntsville exists due to the prison and Sam Houston University there having a degree in Criminal Justice.  Of course they have other degrees but the Criminal Justice degree feeds graduates into the Huntsville/Texas prison system.
« Last Edit: December 24, 2018, 08:10:38 pm by Victoria33 »

Online bigheadfred

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 18,513
  • Gender: Male
  • One day Closer
How many innocents has Texas killed?  Isn’t killing an innocent murder?

In cases where the evidence is clear, and the death penalty is handed down, execution should be immediate. But I would bet in a high number of cases, the evidence is shaky, or hidden, or falsified. And/or the defense is inadequate.

In cases where there is malfeasance on the part of the justice system, any person or party involved, where an innocent was executed, those people should meet the same fate.
She asked me name my foe then. I said the need within some men to fight and kill their brothers without thought of Love or God. Ken Hensley

Offline IsailedawayfromFR

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 18,746
How many innocents has Texas killed?  Isn’t killing an innocent murder?
Yes,  how many innocents have been killed in the State of Texas?

Let's include the ones murdered by those caught and uncaught.  Many thousands compared to at the most a handful over the years perhaps mistakenly executed.

I'll trade that any time.
No punishment, in my opinion, is too great, for the man who can build his greatness upon his country's ruin~  George Washington

Online Elderberry

  • TBR Contributor
  • *****
  • Posts: 24,281
How many innocents has Texas killed?  Isn’t killing an innocent murder?

Quote
Murder(dictionary.law.com): the killing of a human being by a sane person, with intent, malice aforethought (prior intention to kill the particular victim or anyone who gets in the way) and with no legal excuse or authority.

Texas may have killed many innocents, but by definition it wouldn't have been murder.

Online corbe

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 38,072
How many innocents has Texas killed?  Isn’t killing an innocent murder?

  Since you asked @Oceander
  WE, Texans call that 'Highly Unfortunate' and $hit happens.
No government in the 12,000 years of modern mankind history has led its people into anything but the history books with a simple lesson, don't let this happen to you.

Offline MajorClay

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,600
  • Gender: Male

Oceander

  • Guest
Yes,  how many innocents have been killed in the State of Texas?

Let's include the ones murdered by those caught and uncaught.  Many thousands compared to at the most a handful over the years perhaps mistakenly executed.

I'll trade that any time.


Ahhh, so it’s ok if the government kills a few innocents here and there.  Who cares. 

You disgust me. 

Online bigheadfred

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 18,513
  • Gender: Male
  • One day Closer
Ahhh, so it’s ok if the government kills a few innocents here and there.  Who cares. 

You disgust me.

The government kills innocent people worldwide every day. Either through direct action, Or indirect. There is no difference.

And if you are REALLY a practitioner of the law, then YOU, of all the rest, SURELY understand that within the "justice" system, mistakes have been made. Or are completely effing made up.

She asked me name my foe then. I said the need within some men to fight and kill their brothers without thought of Love or God. Ken Hensley

Offline catfish1957

  • Laken Riley.... Say her Name. And to every past and future democrat voter- Her blood is on your hands too!!!
  • Political Researcher
  • *****
  • Posts: 31,362
  • Gender: Male
What we really need to do is more executions.  No reason to keep some on death row such a long time.



I display the Confederate Battle Flag in honor of my great great great grandfathers who spilled blood at Wilson's Creek and Shiloh.  5 others served in the WBTS with honor too.

Offline IsailedawayfromFR

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 18,746
Ahhh, so it’s ok if the government kills a few innocents here and there.  Who cares. 

You disgust me.
No, you as a practitioner of law is the disgusting one.

Why are you and your profession allowing this to occur by the mistakes you make?

And I do not understand why you are on a Texas board anyway since you frown on how we do things down here.
« Last Edit: December 28, 2018, 02:54:39 pm by IsailedawayfromFR »
No punishment, in my opinion, is too great, for the man who can build his greatness upon his country's ruin~  George Washington

Online Bigun

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 51,331
  • Gender: Male
  • Resistance to Tyrants is Obedience to God
    • The FairTax Plan
How many innocents has Texas killed?  Isn’t killing an innocent murder?

None that we are aware of and every single person who has been put to death by the State of Texas has been tried and convicted at least twice.  That would be 24 people on two separate juries who heard the case and unanimously voted guilty.
"I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
- J. R. R. Tolkien

Offline austingirl

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8,734
  • Gender: Female
  • Cruz 2016- a Constitutional Conservative at last!
What we really need to do is more executions.  No reason to keep some on death row such a long time.

I agree.
Principles matter. Words matter.

Online bigheadfred

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 18,513
  • Gender: Male
  • One day Closer
No, you as a practitioner of law is the disgusting one.

Why are you and your profession allowing this to occur by the mistakes you make?

And I do not understand why you are on a Texas board anyway since you frown on how we do things down here.


No, you as a practitioner of law is the disgusting one.


Don't do that pleeze? Do not (asking as a friend) crawl in to his hole.

As effed up as I am, I am spinning the wheels to give him a break. We had some really good fog last night and the temp is around 0. Sun is up, skies are clear. There is some stupendous frost on the trees. What I am saying is this Idaho boy can feel the anger all the way from NYC via TEXAS to here. It is like there is a bad vibe in Oceander's life right now. Not to step on Texas Toast. But maybe if he could witness/see/feel Idaho frost it would clear his head?
She asked me name my foe then. I said the need within some men to fight and kill their brothers without thought of Love or God. Ken Hensley

Offline IsailedawayfromFR

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 18,746

No, you as a practitioner of law is the disgusting one.


Don't do that pleeze? Do not (asking as a friend) crawl in to his hole.

As effed up as I am, I am spinning the wheels to give him a break. We had some really good fog last night and the temp is around 0. Sun is up, skies are clear. There is some stupendous frost on the trees. What I am saying is this Idaho boy can feel the anger all the way from NYC via TEXAS to here. It is like there is a bad vibe in Oceander's life right now. Not to step on Texas Toast. But maybe if he could witness/see/feel Idaho frost it would clear his head?
I couldn't resist to remind him that 100% of any death of innocents are represented by and prosecuted by lawyers who fail to do their job competently.
No punishment, in my opinion, is too great, for the man who can build his greatness upon his country's ruin~  George Washington

Online bigheadfred

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 18,513
  • Gender: Male
  • One day Closer
I couldn't resist to remind him that 100% of any death of innocents are represented by and prosecuted by lawyers who fail to do their job competently.

I know. It is a personal angst.

Per my prior post.
Quote

In cases where the evidence is clear, and the death penalty is handed down, execution should be immediate. But I would bet in a high number of cases, the evidence is shaky, or hidden, or falsified. And/or the defense is inadequate.

In cases where there is malfeasance on the part of the justice system, any person or party involved, where an innocent was executed, those people should meet the same fate.

And like the old "joke". You know why NY got all the lawyers and New Jersey got the waste dumps? New Jersey got first pick.
She asked me name my foe then. I said the need within some men to fight and kill their brothers without thought of Love or God. Ken Hensley