why does this savage not face the death penalty?

[d9f1c7]

http://news.sky.com/h...news/article/16196933
I thought Florida had the death penalty!

[rowanwitch]

He was a juvenile at the time the shooting took place... heaven only knows what he will be like after a long spell in prison...

[bazwillrun]

hopefully he wont ever get out of prison

[Zeuhl]

Here's your answer

wikipaedia

<<As in any other state, people who are under 18 at the time of commission of the capital crime or mentally retarded are constitutionally precluded from being executed.>>

[d9f1c7]

ok so will he ever get out?

[Zeuhl]

Again from wikipedia

<<Under the federal criminal code, however, with respect to offenses committed after December 1, 1987, parole has been abolished for all sentences handed down by the federal system, including life sentences, so a life sentence from a federal court will result in imprisonment for the life of the defendant, unless a pardon or reprieve is granted by the President.>>

[Zeuhl]

Florida State law seems to be:

<<The crime of First Degree Murder is designated a Capital Offense and only has two possible sentences:

Death, or
Life without the possibility of parole.>>

[d9f1c7]

when can we get that here?!

[Messi_Ten]

Only bloodthirsty ghouls want the death penalty! Would you enjoy watching someone die?

[Zeuhl]

d9fl

If the crime situation in Florida is a reflection of its penal code then frankly, we would need to be bonkers to 'have it here'

[d9f1c7]

I was talking about a life sentence actually meaning life messi.

[d9f1c7]

Perhaps the real bloodthirsty ghouls are the ones that allow the murder of innocents because they refuse to deal with the guilty. We all fear the death of an innocent at the hands of the state but our lack of action insures the death of countless innocents at the hands of savages because we provide no effective deterrent somehow that seems to be fine for the handwringers. However if life meant life then I would be happy to not have state execution.

[Davethedog]

If you condone state sanctioned murder, a you not on the same level as the murderer.

In abstract argument its easy to say kill them, but could you do it? I mean could you personaly be the person who drops the trap or throws the switch?

Incarceration for life or give them the choice, but no state sanctioned murder.

[Messi_Ten]

Why would you want to put anyone away for life? They can be rehabilitated and become good citizens again, they just need a chance.

[Zeuhl]

<<because we provide no effective deterrent somehow that seems to be fine for the handwringers>>

If state killing or incarceration without parole is such an effective deterrent in your mind, how do you explain the relatively high murder and crime levels in places like florida or indeed other parts of the usa?

[brionon]

Funny I didn't see hoards of black demonstrators complaining of these murders !!

[flip_flop]

Being pedantic - I know - but if it is state sanctioned it cannot, by definition, be murder. Equally, if it is state sanctioned, and therefore legal, it does not put a supporter on the same level as the murderer because the supporter is supporting something that is legal.

Clearly you are using the word 'murder' because it conjures a powerful image, but I don't think it helps in a debate.

Personally, I'd hate to see the death penalty return to the UK - I struggle with the thought of taking a life - but I would dearly love to see whole life sentances.

[Messi_Ten]

Why would you want to put anyone away for life? They can be rehabilitated and become good citizens again, they just need a chance.

[Zeuhl]

^^

Why would you expect to?

[d9f1c7]

Nothing is a deterent for everyone. I would say the death penalty deters most. How many murders would their be in these places without it? Put it another way how many murders where there in 1960? They all made the news, now days it's so common that many don't even make the nationals. So what is causing the massive increase in murders today?

[Messi_Ten]

Poverty introduced by the Tories, people can only take so much before they snap.