I read in the paper today that John Allen Muhammad was sentenced to death today.
I for one am happy with the decision for killing all those innocent people and distroying their lives and their families lives.
I also read the Lee Boyd Malvo will be sentenced Wednesday to life in prison after a jury spared hime the death penalty.
In my eyes justice has been served. What are your thoughts?

Assuming the question for debate is the appropriateness of this sentence:

I'm an opponent of the death penalty in general. I hasten to point out that this does not mean that I feel sorry for those who are rightly convicted of horrible crimes, or that I lack sympathy for the victims of such atrocities. Nor do I deny that there are probably situations in which I would be willing to kill someone guilty of such hideous acts. However, I think that the understandable human desire for revenge should not be made a part of the justice system. Life in prison, certainly. Death, no.

I also oppose the death penalty, but I do concede that if ever there was a crime for which death is deserved, this is the one.

In addition, I wonder: If the judge had not sentenced John Allen Muhammad to death, would he have received death threats himself? The voices in our society that cry "Kill him" are a lot louder and more numerous than those who would say "Let him live." This is an instance where the majority (or the mob, whichever way you look it) will have its way.

While it will snuff out the life of one serial murderer, however, Muhammad's execution will neither serve as an effective deterrent to those who would follow his twisted example, nor will it completely alleviate the suffering of the bereaved.

Justice has been served. They cold-bloodly attacked and killed 13(?) people. John Allen deserves the death penalty for such a heinous act.

John Allen Muhammad showed not one shred of remorse and in addition, when he was given the opportunity to speak, he said, "I had nothing to do with it."

As the victims' families said, "It is not a day of celebration...it is a sad day indeed."

To be honest, I am neutral about the death penalty and hope that I never have to serve on a jury where the ultimate sentence is a consideration. And I don't honestly see how the death sentence "brings closure" (another expression I am weary of) to the victim's family. Having said that, I may change my mind if I were faced with the tragic circumstance of "walking in their shoes."

I am all for the death penalty for the following reasons, providing all evidence has been presented to the jury from both the prosecution and defense positions.

1. It does deter those who question their own heart and realize the consquences before commiting a tragic crime.

2. The sentence to death does help most survivors of violent crimes in knowing that particular monster will never hurt them again or anyone else. There's no escaping from hell.

3. Also, why should we ,as taxpayers, continue for the crimianls lifetime support them when little or no remorse is recognized. And if the criminal does become enlightened what good would it do while being locked up for life?

I oppose the death penalty but I am willing to adhere to present laws in regards to it.

I agree with previous comments in this thread that if there is a case for the death penalty it is this.

If I were on a jury and I was the only one saying that I opposed giving out the death penalty for a crime, I would feel compelled to join with my peers and help suggest a death penalty conviction.

Yes I think justice was served with in the confines of our current justice system. However, as an opponent to the death penalty I would have preferred to see him receive a "natural" life sentence to hard labor without the possibility of parol.

As a side not (and nothing is meant against Paladin Elspeth here ):



This conjured up images in my head of the Roman coliseum. Thankfully, the justice system in this country, and the country in general is not subject to mob rule.

Both should have gotten the death penalty. He was old enough to pull the trigger, he's old enough to die for doing so.

Mark my words, sometime in the next 10-20 years a movement will begin to set the 'poor young victim of his upbringing free'. Before 30 years have passed he will walk out the prison door a free man.

That will make him about 48 or so.

Justice?

Not!

These men are domestic terrorists...What do we do to terrrorists, we kill terrorists. I find it semi-disgusting that the American taxpayers have to pay to keep one of them alive But I can't stress enought that they are terrorists.

CP

edited because I had them in past tense already, see, I want them dead.

exactly, which is why I am against the death penalty altogether. death is obviously NOT a sufficient detterent to keep people from killing others. if instead people knew they would be locked away 23 hours a day, 7 days a week for the rest of their natural life (some places "life sentence" is only about 40 years, colorado for example) the would be less likly to go out and kill just to kill (or in mohammads cas, for ransom)

I think J.A. mohammad should have gotten 100 years per person killed. having killed between 10 and 15 people he would have been facing at least a 1000 years in prison, preferably locked in his cell 23/7.

As a slight conservative, I advocate using the death penalty only in the most severe of cases. The killing of some 13 persons using sniper tactics falls into this severe category. I do believe the death sentence for Muhammad was justified. He brought terror to my home state of Virginia, and the thought of such a wicked man eating three square meals a day and waiting to get out of jail on good behavior some thirty or forty years from now is too much to bear.

Malvo, while taking an equally atrocious part in the murders, has shown himself on many occassions to be mentally imbalanced. Was there any chance of him getting off on an insanity plea? Of course not! The nation was in an uproar and wanted swift, vengeful justice. So instead, this seemingly-crazy young man get to spend "the rest of his life" (he will probably be out before that) in a federal prison.

Was Justice served? I believe so. I'm too young to have the statistics of whether or not capital punishment "works" or acts as a deterrent for future criminals. I do, however, know my feelings on the matter. Malvo was tried in a courtroom just a few miles from my home, and Muhammad not too much further. I know I'm sleeping better at night knowing that one is going to die for what he did, and the other will spend the rest of his life in jail.