Mr. Clemency

[Jolly]

You can condone millions of abortions without batting an eye, yet worry about 40 murderers, rapists and thieves.

His Catholicism is puzzling...

[jon-nyc]

This would bother me far less than granting clemency to Michael Conahan.

[taiwan_girl]

@George-K said in Mr. Clemency:

If their death sentences were commuted, the prisoners, all convicted of murder, would serve life without parole

I dont have a big problem with this. The death penalty does not reduce crime, and while I think some people deserve it, it often takes decades or longer for any death sentence to be one. Life in prison is a pretty severe punishment.

[George K]

@taiwan_girl said in Mr. Clemency:

I dont have a big problem with this. The death penalty does not reduce crime, and while I think some people deserve it, it often takes decades or longer for any death sentence to be one. Life in prison is a pretty severe punishment.

I don't disagree.

Except...

It's a matter of law. These people were sentenced to death in a legal process. To change it carte-blanche without chaining the law undermines the validity of the courts.

Want to eliminate the death penalty? Fine.

Eliminate the death penalty, but don't play games like this.

I've commented, years ago, about Hernando Williams who raped and murdered the wife of one of my colleagues. I shed no tears and felt no remorse when he met his maker.

Look him up.

[George K]

Also...I can understand (but not necessarily agree with) the desire to commute a death sentence.

It should be done on an individual, not a carte blanche basis.

[taiwan_girl]

@George-K said in Mr. Clemency:

It's a matter of law. These people were sentenced to death in a legal process. To change it carte-blanche without chaining the law undermines the validity of the courts.

Agree. Pardons overall should be eliminated.

[Jolly]

@taiwan_girl said in Mr. Clemency:

The death penalty does not reduce crime,

Try commiting a crime after you're dead.

[George K]

@taiwan_girl said in Mr. Clemency:

Pardons overall should be eliminated.

Constitutional amendment.

Good luck.

[Mik]

@George-K said in Mr. Clemency:

Also...I can understand (but not necessarily agree with) the desire to commute a death sentence.

It should be done on an individual, not a carte blanche basis.

This. It’s just circumventing rather than adhering to the law. And I’m a death penalty opponent.

[George K]

@Mik said in Mr. Clemency:

just circumventing rather than adhering to the law.

A long-standing tradition in the last two Democratic administrations. I"m not surprised, not even disappointed.