Today in Lewistown, Illinois Daniel Ramsey was sentenced to death for the fatal shootings of two Hancock County girls in 1996. He was convicted in 1997 and sentenced to death but the case was overturned on an insanity defense technicality. On April 25 he pleaded guilty to four counts of first degree murder, three counts of attempted murder, and one count each of aggravated criminal sexual assault and home invasion. He has never denied shooting the two girls. There has been no death sentences carried out in Illinois since 2003. At that time Governor Ryan imposed a moratorium on executions. Governor Blagojevich has continued the moratorium.
This all being said, I will tell you that I am for the death penalty but have heard several good arguments against it. I believe, roughly, "an eye for and eye". I also believe that the public should not have to pay for a convicted killer's meals, medications, medical treatment, etc. so that he/she may live out his/her life in prison. This individual is doing nothing for society! He/she has taken at least one life and is now, in a sense, living on a "free ticket". The individual doesn't have to work for a living. He or she doesn't have to worry about where their next meal is coming from.
I know, one of the arguments that I hear is that to take a life is not our decision. It is the decision of a higher power. Did the person that lost his/her life, to this violent and heartless person, get to choose when he/she died? Did a higher power decide it was time for that individual to die at the hands of this madman? I find this hard to believe. I am sure there are other arguments out there against the death penalty. Please inform me. I have an open mind, but as of now I am for it!
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9 comments:
Mr. Carey,
As much as it kills me to say this, I think you are right. It is not fair for us to pay for people like Ramsey to be kept alive. Why would the parents of the girls that he killed be obligated to keep the girls murderer alive?
Another thing I am wondering about is why are people in prison being able to get married and be online on the computer and have all the privliges that we, law abiding citizens, have. Prison is no longer how it should be. Hypotheticly, I could shoot someone and be entitled to a happy life with friends and a husband living in prison.
To sum it up, I think that if a man is able to take 2 innocent young lives, we should be able to take his. ( I realize that how I said this made me seem ruthless.)
-Catherine
Mr. C,
I agree with all of the above comments. He should of been put to death right after the first time he was founded guilty. He never should of killed the girls. He had no right!!!
~MEGAN S.~
Mr. C,
I totally agree 100% it is not fair for a person who has taken the life of another individual for no reason to be keep alive by the public. He made the terrible decision of taking the life of someone else and shold be equally punished for his crime. I wish there was a little more justice in the world today, like people who should be convicted and put in prison are only being put on probation. They are still out there and could do it again for all we know.
~Sarah W., 7th grade
Sarah W.,
Good point on probation!
Mr. C
Even though I do not like the death penalty, I do think that if a person has murdered someone that he should be sentenced to death too. If he is put in jail then he could be let out(or escape). If he is let out then he could do it again. Why do we have to keep him alive when he did not keep the other kids alive?
-Chad Lentz-
Catherine,
I'll try to make you feel a little better about thinkiny you are ruthless. For someone convicted of such heinous crimes as Daniel Ramsey and sentenced to death I feel we as a society have the right to execute the sentence. But I find it a terrible waste of human flesh to kill the person for the sole reason of justice. (Now here's the part that will make you feel better about being ruthless) In todays world we have the technology to help many innocent people live better and longer lives through advanced medical treatments. I say that we take the convicted person to an operating room and "Part them out". There is someone out there who is dying that needs a heart, liver, lungs, eyes, you get the picture. I know that for most that punishment would seem too gruesome---ok lets do research on them---experimental drugs, cures, stem cell research, or whatever else we can use them for to benefit society. I realize we may get into Constitutional Rights problems with "Cruel and Unusual Punishment" issues, but the victiims were not granted the same protection from these acts, why should the perpitrators be. If nothing else I feel that the possible fact of facing this type of execution may be a better deterent than the types of capital punishment being doles out these days---we'll give you a shot of drugs and you'll go to sleep. Naw, we'll put you to sleep and cut you up into useable parts and scrape what's left off of the table. OK Catherine you should be feeling alot better about yourself and maybe a little scared about me. Don't be---I'm not heartless or cruel. Just like Mr. C. I guess I believe in an eye for an eye. Now Mr. C. you wanted arguements agaisnt capital punishment. Well I believe there have been some innocent people that were executed wrongly. I believe this is a documented fact. This would go with another blog---we all make mistakes. So in order to be human, I believe that only those that have been convicted beyond a shadow of a doubt should be executed. Again in todays world of technology we have many tools to erase doubt---DNA testing among them. And if, as in the Ramsey case we have a confession, I believe that shadow of a doubt doesn't exist. Unfortunately in our justice system we seem to have taken to letting criminals bargain for some things in order to get them to confess---they would admit guilt if they can avoid the death penalty. This doesn't seem right to me either. And as far as my execution style I say that maybe the criminal would feel that they were actually doing one last good deed here before they face the ultimate judge---God. I am sure He would want them to help make someone's life here a little better. And maybe it would help me with my belief that there is some good in everyone.
Mr. Carey,
I totally agree with you. For number one the U.S. is in enough debt as it is. We do not need to be paying for phsyco killer's food (and doesnt that come from our taxes??). So in technicality we are paying for people that kill people!? And for number two i believe if you kill someone you shouldn't get to live..."an eye for an eye" as you said.
Very good blogs by the way. =)
-Cameron R.
Thanks for the comment Cameron.
I say let him die. I may of just posted till now but I still think he should die theres no exuse for murduring 2 girls!!!!!!!!! We dont need to waste or money on him in any way shape or form!
By:Alex Zanger
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