The execution of Troy Davis

[Aniron]

But Davis killed a cop! That's what the go-to argument will be when this is brought up.

[BrooklynRedLeg]

Not to defend Crowe, but you don't make a broken system better by repeating the same mistake. The Death Penalty is wrong. Davis, sadly, was a forgone conclusion because he was accused of killing a cop. The system will not bear the killing of one of their enforcers and it doesn't matter that "justice" is sometimes served over the corpse of at least one innocent person. Anyone who knows about the current Force Continuum for Police in The United States knows that police have infinitely more leeway now to blow a suspect to kingdom come and such an incident will almost always be ruled as justified. Some people may claim that sounds conspiratorial, but its the truth.

[Simon_Jester]

Redleg, what's particularly disgusting here is that, practically simultaneously, the system kills one person whose guilt is so uncertain and grants mercy to another whose guilt is more certain.

But Davis killed a cop! That's what the go-to argument will be when this is brought up.

Well, you go to the obvious counter right back:

"No, he didn't."

[BrooklynRedLeg]

Redleg, what's particularly disgusting here is that, practically simultaneously, the system kills one person whose guilt is so uncertain and grants mercy to another whose guilt is more certain.

I agree. I used to believe the idea that the death penalty was a deterrent (as in, the son of a bitch will never do it again) but as I grew out of my cognitive dissonance I understood that I don't want the death of an innocent person on my conscience.

[Stofsk]

Nice. A guy who admits guilt but feels bad gets spared while a guy whose guilt was in serious doubt gets the needle. Anyone know if Crowe is white?

That's actually not surprising, given the fucked up logic that gets used by parole boards. See, because he admitted his guilt, he must feel remorse. Davis maintained his innocence, ergo he feels no remorse or guilt for having done what the conviction sheet says he did.

It's the same thing with parole. Guys who do 10, 15, 20 years for a crime they didn't commit and maintain during every one of those years that they didn't do it, will get passed over for parole. Guys who plead guilty, and who would be sentenced comparatively shorter amounts of time than the former, have a way better chance at getting parole.

And this is all before getting to the racial dynamic.

[Anguirus]

Much as I am thankful for Alyrium defending even the most obscure parts of my rhetoric, what I should have said was "the death penalty's application in the US at this time is inherently racist."

Thanks for pointing out that aspect of parole boards Stofsk...I hadn't thought of that. And thanks for your perspective, in general.

[Flagg]

Nice. A guy who admits guilt but feels bad gets spared while a guy whose guilt was in serious doubt gets the needle. Anyone know if Crowe is white?

That's actually not surprising, given the fucked up logic that gets used by parole boards. See, because he admitted his guilt, he must feel remorse. Davis maintained his innocence, ergo he feels no remorse or guilt for having done what the conviction sheet says he did.

It's the same thing with parole. Guys who do 10, 15, 20 years for a crime they didn't commit and maintain during every one of those years that they didn't do it, will get passed over for parole. Guys who plead guilty, and who would be sentenced comparatively shorter amounts of time than the former, have a way better chance at getting parole.

And this is all before getting to the racial dynamic.

Yeah I'm aware of that particular aspect of parole and just how perverse it can be.

[Terralthra]

Much as I am thankful for Alyrium defending even the most obscure parts of my rhetoric, what I should have said was "the death penalty's application in the US at this time is inherently racist."

I appreciate your willingness to graciously accept and concede a nitpick.

[Lord MJ]

Ouch. Looking at the dates, turns out that the crowe article is from 2008. Which dampens the moral outrage of sparing one guy the day after executing another.

The issue of Crowe getting mercy, while Troy Davis being executed regardless of date difference still remains however.

[Flagg]

If the board is made up of the same people it's still relevant.

[Anguirus]

Much as I am thankful for Alyrium defending even the most obscure parts of my rhetoric, what I should have said was "the death penalty's application in the US at this time is inherently racist."

I appreciate your willingness to graciously accept and concede a nitpick.

Dude, I nitpick like it's my job.

[Kamakazie Sith]

I think the execution of Troy Davis was unacceptable and a failing of justice. However, I do think Troy Davis is the man who murdered the officer because the connection with the ammunition is very significant and the timing of the witness recanting their statements makes me wonder.

This should have been reduced to a life sentence and a formal investigation opened to review the allegations of police misconduct and possible witnesses tampering.