Does Delaware deserve to kill?

Filed in Delaware by on March 27, 2015

Here in tiny Delaware, the movement to repeal the death penalty has begun its annual spring migration. Once again, Sen. Karen Peterson is sponsoring the repeal legislation, and a full Senate debate could come as early as next Thursday.

As usual, Peterson and her allies are up against hard opposition from politicians who, despite all the evidence of the death penalty as a cruel and failed policy, are simply afraid of seeming weak on crime.

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About the Author ()

Rob Tornoe is a local cartoonist and columnist, and can be seen in The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Press of Atlantic City, The News Journal, and the Dover Post chain of newspapers. He's also a contributor to Media Matters and WHYY. Web site: RobTornoe.com Twitter: @RobTornoe

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  1. Robert Duggan | March 28, 2015
  1. Jason330 says:

    It is galling to me that Jack Markell is on the fence.

  2. Delaware Dem says:

    But I love him holding the popcorn.

  3. bob smith says:

    It was your decision to commit a crime that resulted in someone’s death. So in the end you should be willing to die as a result of your actions.

  4. Steve Newton says:

    And of course we should all live by Bob Smith’s morality, because Christianity damnit.

  5. radef16 says:

    I fully agree that the death penalty should be repealed. However, it puzzles me why no one proposes an alternate punishment for those criminals convicted of heinous crimes that now make them eligible for death. “Three hots & a cot” is simply a vacation or right of passage for most criminals. Getting life is a badge of honor. Here are a few suggestions.

    Permanent solitary confinement.
    Whoops, there seems to be a movement to ban this too.

    Hard labor. (16 hours a day would be nice)
    Productive work with proceeds used to benefit victims or pay the State for their stay would be best. A rock pile would be sufficient. Why aren’t prisoners required to grow their own food?

    Banishment (never to be seen again)
    A small island off the coast of French Guiana comes to mind.
    Of course it might be too cruel to not ever let them see their families.

    Those who commit the worst violent & heinous crimes need to be punished. They don’t deserve to die nor should they spend of their lives watching cable TV & working out twice a day.

  6. Dorian Gray says:

    That’s a widely inaccurate portrait of prison life. The idea that it’s a pleasant life or too cushy for violent offenders is something you’ve concocted in your mind.

  7. Dave says:

    “Three hots & a cot” is a form of morbid humor that we humans use to make something unpleasant more palatable. It’s interesting how the term has evolved into an actual belief that prison is a country club.

    I blame the education system for not instilling a key skill to get through life – critical thinking.

    There are several programs in prisons where they grow their own food. Some are so successful that they have a surplus which is donated to food pantries: http://blogs.worldwatch.org/nourishingtheplanet/five-urban-garden-programs-that-are-reaching-inmates-and-at-risk-populations/

  8. mouse says:

    Critical thinking is a big threat to entrenched political parties. Can’t imagine why anyone wants to give the state the right to kill its own citizens. The implications are crazy

  9. MikeM2784 says:

    I find it odd that states that are ok killing their citizens are not ok with citizens killing themselves, even with the help and consultation of a medical professional. So, the state knows what is better for people than the themselves do? Damn liberals…oh wait…