Comments on: Execution of Washington sniper was a ghoulish spectacle

By: Larry Goodfella

Larry Goodfella — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:19:45 +0000

Precicely Dan.

In sunny SA we have a whole industry that needs nurturing. We have a whole government ministery with VIP ministers and DG,s and a massive public service being well fed on the ability to maintain many prison facilities and high prison populations.

It sickens me to no end that we have to feed these criminals, (both prisoners and their handlers), from the public purse. 40 million spent recently on repairing TV’s so that hardened convicts can while away the time relaxing while decent citizens have to work for their upkeep.

In this country, murderers and rapists get out after 5-10 years (if they get caught at all) with a first class education in functional criminality, and then act as if the world owes them a living.

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:31:12 +0000

The whole anti-death penalty thing is a serious issue and worth serious discussion and reflection.

This article appears to me more of an emotional diatribe. “goulish”, “awful” “ceremony”
ergo – in my opinion – not to be taken seriously

I spent those weeks under the scope of this murderer. The first two men killed were across the street from my office. This is not something that I can dispossionately look at from x thousands of miles away

IF if could be sure that
[1] I would not have to hear – every year – some idiot saying that life in prison is cruel and unusual
[2] John M would not have a set of groupies sending him letters, worshiping him and publishing his diatribes against society in the press
[3] I would not have to watch barbara walters interviewing him from prison on tv every year when sweeps week requires eer higher ratings
[4] I would never need to hear his name again
[5] etc …
I would be happy to leave him in prison for the rest of his life rather than kill him

Unfortunately – our world is not so perfect.
Goodbye DC Sniper! Say hello to Tim McVegh for me!

By: Larry Goodfella

Larry Goodfella — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:08:06 +0000

This method of killing convicted mass murderers is very civilised. It is not just retributive, but rather mostly a dire warning to would-be murderers that their crimes will be met with a penalty of death.
This is the issue and South Africa needs this more than any other country.

In bygone times, those sentenced to death in much cruder courts, would be drawn and quartered. That is, pulled apart and cut in four or more separate pieces.

Also a fitting punishment.

Ray, to focus only on the wrongness of taking the murderers life, is to play directly into the hands of criminals and would-be murderers. You become part of the crime problem.

By: Skodide Goodfella

Skodide Goodfella — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:41:54 +0000

Ray that might be your opinion that the death penalty is unacceptable but I for one do not agree. There are many millions of criminals in this country who would not think twice before raping your two year old daughter and then your wife and your mother before killing them, and then take the time to cut off your fingers before throwing boiling water over you and you say the death penalty is unacceptable?? NEVER.. The death penalty MUST return in order to stop this chaose and terror.

By: Mandy de Waal

Mandy de Waal — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:12:21 +0000

Thought provoking argument Ray, and this debate is one that will remain for as long as it takes for South Africa to come to terms with the complex issues that ferment violence in this country. We are a violent nation, but how does it serve us to remedy that violence with even more bloodshed. Makes me think of Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s wise words:

“If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart? “