Surprisingly, not everyone wants the death penalty on the table as a possible punishment for certain, heinous crimes.
Of course, some people do.
I came across a letter today in the Omaha World Herald that I’m going to share with you in the hopes that it will illustrate some of the frustration that the relatives of victims and other people left behind feel when the story is over and the reporters have gone home.
I am one of the daughters of the Omaha cab driver who was murdered in 1979 by Carey Dean Moore. Reuel Van Ness Jr. was my father.
I don’t know how (someone) can write and say that the death penalty should be dropped in Nebraska.
I am a victim, and (someone) might not know how it feels to be a victim of such a cruel murder. My father and Maynard Helgeland were innocent men who were working to earn extra money to support their families.
I don’t have a father, and my children don’t have a grandfather. I was only 12 years old when my father was murdered. Moore was 22 at the time. He is 49 years old now. My father was only 47 when he was murdered, so Moore has lived longer than my father did.
And who paid for him to live this long? Taxpayers.
Nebraska should stick with the electric chair. I hope the day will come soon for justice, and I sure hope and pray that it won’t take another 28 years.
28 years is too long.
8 years is too long.
If we’re sure we have the right guy - if the offender has confessed, or if the evidence is overwhelming - why do we even wait for one year to mete out justice?
Give the evil-doer a one-way, express ticket to Hell.
What do you think?
I agree with Capital Punishment. I dont think it should take forever either. I do not think it needs to be very expensive, a rope, an axe, a bullet will do just as well as electricity or gas or lethal injection.
For some crimes, like rape and murder of a small child, I like an eye for an eye kind of thing, and a shot to the head, or hanging is too good, to quick…
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Justice delayed is justice denied. Guilty as Hell. he crossed the line and he should pay the price. As pointed out, It is wrong for him to go on living while his victim could not.
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Although it seems just, sometimes the death penalty is an easy out. The person who commits such heinous crimes has to live with him/herself in that small cell surrounded by people who do not know how to show kindness, love or compassion. I have never been in jail, but I am in close contact with someone who sees it everyday. I can surmise that it is not a nice place to be. I do not disagree with capital punishment, but I am somewhat conflicted on its place in the justice system. I do, however, have that streak in me that wants to see some of these people REALLY suffer. But is there more suffering to be had at the hands of others who know hate and pain better than any of us on the outside? I do have some problems with the idea that a murderer or rapist has any right to civil liberties. I think when you commit a crime that strips another of their rights, that you should no longer be considered a citizen. Rehabilitation only works for those that do not have blood on their hands. You can rehab a drug dealer, but how do you rehab a person who kills a child? The true death penalty should make them what they are: a pariah. Make these people live without rights and strip them of citizenship. I guarantee that it won’t be long before they do the job for us.
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