PUBLIC OPINION > The Aurora Shooter Should Get the Death Penalty
SodaHead News
2012/07/31 21:00:00
The nation is still struggling to process the tragic events of July 20, when 12 people were shot dead in a Colorado theater during a midnight showing of "The Dark Knight Rises." The suspected gunman, James Eagan Holmes, was charged with 24 counts of first-degree murder. That's two for each victim: one standard charge, and one with "extreme indifference to the value of human life generally." We asked the public if the shooter should get the death penalty.
Looking back at Colorado's recent history with capital punishment, we find that only one person has been executed since 1977 -- Gary Lee Davis, for the rape and murder of one woman. There are also three people on death row in Colorado -- Nathan Dunlap, who murdered four people; Mario Owns, who murdered two people; and Robert Ray, who ordered the murder of two people. Given the company, it doesn't sound like it will be that difficult to get the shooter on death row. The public will be happy to hear it.
Proximity Poll
Before we get into the demographics proper, we wanted to compare the results of this poll to one we took in April. At that time, we asked if the death penalty was necessary. About 62% of the public felt it was. However, this time, relating the issue to a horrendous case that's still fresh in our minds, overall support for the death penalty was 14% higher.
Liberals Let Go
Age and politics seemed to have the most significant correlation with how people responded, but the political breakdown was more interesting when compared to the April poll. While conservative opinion remained about the same, liberals almost doubled their support from 33% to 59%. However, that could have something to do with the wording -- "Is the death penalty necessary?" versus "Should he get it?"
Teens Are Torn
Teens were the only major demographic that was still undecided. Only 51% of them think the shooter should get the death penalty. There were several arguments against it -- death is too painless, we shouldn't stoop to his level, some even pitched conspiracy theories and government cover-ups. The most popular response to any of those arguments was the cost of a life sentence.
If you'd like to vote on this question, dig deeper into the demographics, or engage in existing discussion about the topic, visit our poll about the death penalty. We'd love to hear from you!
Top Opinion
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Anonymouse BN-0 ~bibbityboo~ 2012/07/31 23:32:37
+12Don't like the death penalty. Why not let them give back to society? Hard labour, mining, medical testing, there are lots of things we could put scum to work on. Why not use them instead of defenceless animals in early-stage pharmaceutical testing?
The sooner this idiot goes away, the more the state will be saving money.
If you have something more concrete, I'd appreciate the links. At the same time, I'd really like to see links to primary sources (or similar) rather than links to sources with a major axe to grind, e.g. against Jewish people or something. The background of the speaker may be totally irrelevant to a rational debate (because logic is either right or wrong), but it can be relevant to the presentation of factual information, because it has a bearing on what has been included and omitted, or if it's even true at all. I'd like to avoid spending too much time vetting facts for authenticity. :p
That's what they thrive on
It’s pretty much the same people who wanted abortions legalized who want the DEATH PENALTY dropped, saying that our government murders these people. The truth of it is our government KILLS these people for the MURDERS that they committed. Seems these people care more for the MURDERER than for those MURDERED.
( Murder = taking innocent blood). The unlawful killing of one human being by another, esp. with malice aforethought. 1. To kill (a human being) unlawfully. 2. To mar or spoil by ineptness; mutilate.
A MURDERERS blood is NOT INNOCENT.
Kill: 1. a. To put to death; slay. b. To deprive of life. 2. a. To put an end to.
The killing of murderers is condoned by Yahweh for the protection of innocent people. Murder demonstrates the lack of respect for human life.
"If we execute murderers and there is in fact no deterrent effect, we have killed a bunch of murderers. If we fail to execute murderers, and doing so would in fact have deterred other murders, we have allowed the killing of a bunch of innocent victims. I would much rather risk the former. This, to me, is not a tough call."
John McAdams - Marquette University/Department of Political Science, on deterrence
The cost to tax payers is around $37,500.00 a year to keep a person on death row. When a per...
It’s pretty much the same people who wanted abortions legalized who want the DEATH PENALTY dropped, saying that our government murders these people. The truth of it is our government KILLS these people for the MURDERS that they committed. Seems these people care more for the MURDERER than for those MURDERED.
( Murder = taking innocent blood). The unlawful killing of one human being by another, esp. with malice aforethought. 1. To kill (a human being) unlawfully. 2. To mar or spoil by ineptness; mutilate.
A MURDERERS blood is NOT INNOCENT.
Kill: 1. a. To put to death; slay. b. To deprive of life. 2. a. To put an end to.
The killing of murderers is condoned by Yahweh for the protection of innocent people. Murder demonstrates the lack of respect for human life.
"If we execute murderers and there is in fact no deterrent effect, we have killed a bunch of murderers. If we fail to execute murderers, and doing so would in fact have deterred other murders, we have allowed the killing of a bunch of innocent victims. I would much rather risk the former. This, to me, is not a tough call."
John McAdams - Marquette University/Department of Political Science, on deterrence
The cost to tax payers is around $37,500.00 a year to keep a person on death row. When a person is found guilty of murder without any doubt they need to be executed the same day. If there is some doubt they need to be given life in prison until it is proven beyond a doubt, then put to death right away. Otherwise they stay on death row for a good 10 to 20 years. It’s a proven fact once a person has murdered someone it is easier the next time. Lethal Injection is the most humane way of executing a person, they literally go to sleep, without any pain whatsoever, not that they deserve death this easy. An executed murderer can never murder again, remember that. Every execution could be saving the life of one of your loved ones, or saving the life of someone elses.
Since 1977, over 900 people have been executed in the USA; there are currently around 3,500 men and women on death row across the country.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops recently called on our political leaders to break that cycle of violence and “abandon the illusion that we can protect life by taking life. The use of the death penalty,” they said, “ought to be abandoned not only for what it does to those who are executed, but what it does to all society.”
The church of Rome has murdered more people than any other institution on earth. It will happen again.
Is this a double standard? The Pope will be over the One World Order and they will want to kill off around 90% of the world's population. This will be down right murder. So the saying is true: "Rome when in minority is as gentle as a lamb, when in equality is as clever as a fox, and when in the majority is as fierce as a tiger." So what went around is coming around again.
Catholic Bishops, what do the MURDERERS do to our society? THEY MURDER. What the death penalty does to those who are executed? PUTS THEM TO DEATH WHERE THEY CAN’T MURDER AGAIN.
Society is better off without them.
I believe being shot, hung or electricution is better than the above.
Lethal Injection is the easiest way.
It must depend on who does the executions and for what reason.
Murderers take life in the most grusome ways, yet when it comes to their life, very few want to die.
Around 76% of violent criminals are Christian and most of these did not convert after their conviction, but were Christian when they did the crime. Many prisoners will try to use Christianity to get out of prison and once they do they go back to their old ways. There are people going around to all the churches trying to get Christians to get the death penalty dropped saying that these people can be saved????????
The most pitiful thing about all this is you hear so much about having pity for the murderers and very little about their victims and what they had to go through and the gruesome deaths they had to endure until their lives were ended. Hardly anything is said about the families and friends of the victims and what they have to go through daily for losing one of their loved ones.
You have to kill the wolves to protect the sheep. This goes for rapist and pedophiles too.
Lord sayeth nothing, Christians worship sun and moon deities.