The Death Penalty, Schwarzenegger and Court TV movie

The Death Penalty, Schwarzenegger and Court TV movie
On January 19th of this year Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger allowed the
first death sentence to be served in three years, and the first under
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. That is almost copied straight from a
news site (because honestly if I hadn’t, there’s no way I’d have been
able to spell Arnie’s name!)

Anyway, I recently caught an ad for a movie on Court TV called The
Exonerated. It’s based on true stories of several people who spent
years on death row for crimes they didn’t commit. The original version
was a play which inspired my interest in the subject of the death
penalty. I specifically remember one guy who spent something like 20
years on death row before finally being cleared.

Now before someone jumps all over me: I’m not saying that the guy who
was just executed in California was innocent. But does anyone think
it’s acceptable that even one innocent person could be executed? I
think it’s about time this country joins the rest of the civilized
world and adopts a more humane approach. For those of you still on the
fence on this issue, I’d check out this movie, because if it’s anything
like the play the personal stories will astound you. I think it airs on
January 27 (but check courttv.com just in case I’m wrong). And if you
have thoughts on this issue, I’d like to hear them.

What's the alternative?

Obviously, the biggest argument against capital punishment is the innocent person that happens into that net once in a great while. Even one case is what gives us pause in using this as a punishment.

So if not capital punishment for mass-murderers...people who have proven that they lack the capacity to live in society without harming and killing others...then what? Life in prison? Maybe there should be prisons that are a notch up in terms of harder time served as the deterrent. However, the prisoner's rights thing comes up and we're right back to where we are now.

Where does the line get drawn? Cable and HBO with three squares a day for the serial killer? Maybe prison will hold it's own justice, as in the case of Jeffrey Dahmer, but again what is the real deterrent?

In a way, I was satisfied to see at least one murderer receive recompense for the crimes committed. People also forget that lethal injection has to be one of the most humane ways to go. If anyone has doubts, just watch CNN a few more times to follow the latest Iraq hostage situation.