08-09-2015, 04:30 PM
I used to support the death penalty fully in cases where there was definitive proof of guilt, intent to kill, no mental illness nor very low IQ, and aggravating factors.
But, as time goes by, I have a harder time supporting it even in those types of cases because it costs so much more time and money for the prosecution and appeal of capital cases. Plus, I don't believe the death penalty deters violent crime/murder at all.
On the other hand, I like that state and federal prosecutors can often negotiate effectively with worst offenders using the death penalty as leverage. Prosecutors can sometimes solve cases and bring closure to victims' families by offering to take it off the table in exchange for a full confession, and/or for information about other unsolved crimes, and/or to elicit guilty pleas to avoid the expense of a trial and appeal altogether... Personally, I like the death penalty more as a bargaining chip for LE than I do as an actual punishment.
As for James Holmes, his crime was the worst of the worst and qualified for the harshest penalty the state had at its disposal. It would have been hard for state leaders to justify even having the death penalty in Colorado if they didn't pursue it in the case of mass-murderer James Holmes (plus most of his victims' families wanted it). I believe he's mentally ill, but he's undoubtedly also very smart and clearly knew what he was doing was wrong/illegal when he killed 12 innocent strangers. It doesn't bother me, however, that he got life without parole instead of death.
But, as time goes by, I have a harder time supporting it even in those types of cases because it costs so much more time and money for the prosecution and appeal of capital cases. Plus, I don't believe the death penalty deters violent crime/murder at all.
On the other hand, I like that state and federal prosecutors can often negotiate effectively with worst offenders using the death penalty as leverage. Prosecutors can sometimes solve cases and bring closure to victims' families by offering to take it off the table in exchange for a full confession, and/or for information about other unsolved crimes, and/or to elicit guilty pleas to avoid the expense of a trial and appeal altogether... Personally, I like the death penalty more as a bargaining chip for LE than I do as an actual punishment.
As for James Holmes, his crime was the worst of the worst and qualified for the harshest penalty the state had at its disposal. It would have been hard for state leaders to justify even having the death penalty in Colorado if they didn't pursue it in the case of mass-murderer James Holmes (plus most of his victims' families wanted it). I believe he's mentally ill, but he's undoubtedly also very smart and clearly knew what he was doing was wrong/illegal when he killed 12 innocent strangers. It doesn't bother me, however, that he got life without parole instead of death.