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Post by legallybrunette on Aug 3, 2006 7:42:02 GMT -5
;D Hi everyone, noticed on casting my eye down the list of threads that most of them have not been posted in months so I thought I would start one up here just to get everyone going again. Are there any members out there who have had inmates executed and been so badly affected by that experience that they haven't been able to fill the void up? Also, were any of you staunch pro-death supporters until you ventured into penpal'ship' with an inmate and began to see them more as human beings and less like vile creatures worthy of prompt extermination? I for my part, find that I am inclined in my heart of hearts to feel strongly pro-death for all child molesters/ killers and sexual predators whilst feeling more anti-death in respect of other crimes. It is a strange juxtaposition. What do others think?  |
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Post by pumpkinpie on Aug 3, 2006 12:59:09 GMT -5
I feel the same way. In the sake of someone like John Couey (he is the man that kidnapped, raped and then buried alive a 9 year old Florida girl), I definetly feel more pro-death, in cases like these. Normally I am against the death penalty, but when I hear about a case like this, I tend to think "I hope he gets the death penalty." I mean I know it would be better to say that he should just get life in prison with no possibility of of ever getting out, but in this type of case, I do feel more like I hope he gets death, because he buried that little girl, Jessica Lunsford alive. In most cases though, I am against capital punishment.
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Post by legallybrunette on Aug 3, 2006 15:33:44 GMT -5
God that is a horrible crime!! I would challenge anyone who did not think such a sub-human should be exterminated for the better good of society and the world, to be as forgiving if it were their own loved one (particularly a child) who had to endure that kind of torture. It is so easy for those of us who have not suffered crime of this kind to our families, to be generous in spirit in relation to the criminal's punishment. For that reason, I give myself a headache sometimes thinking that somewhere out there is the son of my penpal's victim who still mourns the horrible death of his mother. I can only admire those who are such victims and find it in their heart to forgive. I'm afraid my heart just ain't that big!! 
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Post by happyhaddock on Aug 9, 2006 23:54:24 GMT -5
I feel the same way. In the sake of someone like John Couey (he is the man that kidnapped, raped and then buried alive a 9 year old Florida girl), I definetly feel more pro-death, in cases like these. Normally I am against the death penalty, but when I hear about a case like this, I tend to think "I hope he gets the death penalty." I mean I know it would be better to say that he should just get life in prison with no possibility of of ever getting out, but in this type of case, I do feel more like I hope he gets death, because he buried that little girl, Jessica Lunsford alive. In most cases though, I am against capital punishment. Be careful of pre judging the case. All we know is what we have been told, and I am unaware of any confession Couey has made in front of media cameras. Don't forget that in the Central Park rape case five teenagers -- who later became known as the "Central Park Five" -- were convicted in the rape and served sentences ranging from seven to 11 years. All of them confessed to police on video and with their parents watching. All have now been cleared as the real attacker (it does happen) confessed and his DNA alone matched the crime. |
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Post by oneofthepursleys on Aug 10, 2006 15:51:39 GMT -5
It has been a little over 15 months since Lonnie was executed and the pain is just like it was yesterday. I simple cannot get over loosing him. It is so not real and I fight back the tears by the minute. I have tried all sorts of things and I have such a great support group, with friends and family, but it just does not help heal the pain. My heart feels like it is going to blow completely up inside of my chest at times. I am very aware of the fact that all people that have lost a loved one surely must feel the same way. I am not suggesting that my pain is any greater than anyone else's. I am just answering the post. I know how the victim's family feels and I want people to know that we are victims too. No matter how he died, he is still gone from my life and that is a void I do not seem to be able to fill. Thank you for asking about us and thank all of you for caring. I know I will always have friends and support here on this board, as well as several others, and for that I am grateful. You do help ease the pain for a short while.
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Post by pumpkinpie on Aug 10, 2006 17:34:01 GMT -5
I feel the same way. In the sake of someone like John Couey (he is the man that kidnapped, raped and then buried alive a 9 year old Florida girl), I definetly feel more pro-death, in cases like these. Normally I am against the death penalty, but when I hear about a case like this, I tend to think "I hope he gets the death penalty." I mean I know it would be better to say that he should just get life in prison with no possibility of of ever getting out, but in this type of case, I do feel more like I hope he gets death, because he buried that little girl, Jessica Lunsford alive. In most cases though, I am against capital punishment. Be careful of pre judging the case. All we know is what we have been told, and I am unaware of any confession Couey has made in front of media cameras. Don't forget that in the Central Park rape case five teenagers -- who later became known as the "Central Park Five" -- were convicted in the rape and served sentences ranging from seven to 11 years. All of them confessed to police on video and with their parents watching. All have now been cleared as the real attacker (it does happen) confessed and his DNA alone matched the crime. There was a tape of John Couey confessing to the crime , and police asked him if she was dead when he buried her. His answer was "No, she was alive. I buried her alive." I heard the tape being played on tv, and I heard him say that. And this is the proof he did it,- there was evidence Jessica Lunsford had been buried alive. There were holes her little fingers had poked through the garbage bag he put her in, and real evidence that she had been buried alive. Now, if he didn't do it, then how would he know where her body was buried, and that she was buried alive? Can you imagine the fear in any person, let alone a child being buried alive? This man deserves the ultimate punishment. |
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Post by legallybrunette on Aug 11, 2006 7:49:57 GMT -5
The sad facts of this case just get more and more horrific. I hear what the gentleman who replied to my post says and understand where he is coming from in sounding caution. However, bearing in mind the now documented facts of this particular case with little Jessica, I totally feel for the victim's family. I think I can understand how the family of executed inmates feel too. You can't stop loving someone because of their misdeeds/findings of guilt for crime, whether that be as family or as a friend. Consequently, the pain is just as raw whether you are related to the victim of the crime or of the convicted perpetrator. With today's common use of DNA, I think the likelihood of a confession alone being the basis for conviction, is becoming less and less of a risk and therefore, there is greater justification for thinking adversely about those convicted of such heinous crimes. Just as an aside, does anyone else ever wonder whether it is easier for women to identify with female victims of crime than for men? I have to admit that for my own part, the pain and death of a female victim whether child or adult, seems to outrage me more than that of a boy or man. 
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Post by nessynou on Aug 12, 2006 3:01:59 GMT -5
oneofthepursleys, thank you for sharing how you feel. I believe that it is hard for the inmates families and friends to be able to say how they feel without being frowned upon. And you are right, the families of the inmates are victims too. I am glad to hear that these boards do help you, even if it is only for a short time.
Please take care,
Ness
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Post by Maggie on Aug 12, 2006 9:13:07 GMT -5
oneofthepursleys, thank you for sharing how you feel. I believe that it is hard for the inmates families and friends to be able to say how they feel without being frowned upon. And you are right, the families of the inmates are victims too. I am glad to hear that these boards do help you, even if it is only for a short time. Please take care, Ness I feel the same way Ness. When somebody is executed it creates more victims. Where is the voice for those people? They have done nothing wrong-- yet they get little sympathy, if any, and they grieve alone. A few people have mentioned Couey. What he did is so sick it is hard for most of us to even imagine. However, what does killing him do? It will not bring Jessica back. When a government has a law allowing the death penalty it is applied to everyone the DA deems it should be. It is applied to all kinds of people not just the Couey's off the world. IMO the government justice system is so flawed, we simply should not have a law allowing death. Did Tookie Williams deserve to die? NO! But the "law" insisted he had to die-- even though it was crystal clear that Tookie Williams could better serve the community alive than dead. They killed him anyway..... because of the law. Besides, who are any of us-- to decided when ANY person should die? We should not. LWOP keeps killers of the street-- and imo gives society the chance to study criminal behavior so that maybe we could put things into practice BEFORE people become killers. JMO Oh by the way pumpkin- I share your disgust for Couey. Try to remember that he didn't need the death penalty to never walk the streets again. LWOP keeps society safe from monsters such as Couey. |
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Post by legallybrunette on Aug 13, 2006 4:59:36 GMT -5
Maggie, you make some really good points. Reading what my penpal tells me about the circumstances in which he committed his crime quite cold bloodedly, I do wonder sometimes whether he would have turned out differently if better educated as to the wrongs in life and/or been given the right kind of treatment early, before it all went belly up in his life.
He is a talented writer and artist so not entirely without hope as a person if he were allowed to contribute to society in some way.
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Post by skyloom on Aug 16, 2006 8:24:09 GMT -5
Reading what my penpal tells me about the circumstances in which he committed his crime quite cold bloodedly, I do wonder sometimes whether he would have turned out differently if better educated as to the wrongs in life and/or been given the right kind of treatment early, before it all went belly up in his life. He is a talented writer and artist so not entirely without hope as a person if he were allowed to contribute to society in some way. Maybe there are some few individuals who are beyond saving. I certainly don't know if your pen friend is one of them, but there are probably some that we just don't know what to do to help them as yet. Even if someone could have intervened when they were children, the question is how, and what to do. Not that long ago, we thought schizophrenia was a life sentence in an institution; today we can give some a relatively normal life with medications. Maybe in another hundred years we will know what to do to help someone like your possibly "cold-blooded" pen friend. Not yet, though, I'm afraid. Meanwhile, though, we do know how to help any number of children and young kids, but seem to lack the will. No one functions well without proper nutrition, for instance, yet some taxpayers don't like the idea of providing food stamps or free meals in schools. These are the kinds of problems that can be addressed. Maybe your pen friend is a person that was refused some things that might have made a difference in his life's outcome. Maybe not. I can't say. But I can say that if there had been any chance for him at all and "taxpayers" just didn't want their tax dollars spent that way, then "taxpayers" have no right to execute him. |
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Post by skyloom on Aug 16, 2006 8:31:39 GMT -5
With today's common use of DNA, I think the likelihood of a confession alone being the basis for conviction, is becoming less and less of a risk and therefore, there is greater justification for thinking adversely about those convicted of such heinous crimes. Unfortunately, many murders do not have DNA evidence involved. People think that DNA is some miracle when it comes to determining guilt or innocence. It can be, if it's there. Most times, though, it either isn't there or there's a legitimate reason why it is there, i.e. when the alleged murderer is a family member or acquaintance of the victim. |
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Post by skyloom on Aug 16, 2006 8:52:01 GMT -5
Are there any members out there who have had inmates executed and been so badly affected by that experience that they haven't been able to fill the void up? I assume you are not a relative or family member. You might want to read "Boundaries and Relationships" by Dr. Charles Whitfield. I doubt any staunch pro-death supporters are writing to death row inmates. If they do, I doubt the inmate would choose to write back, or even read what they write after the first letter. Honestly, I feel more strongly against those who kill adults. |
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Post by skyloom on Aug 16, 2006 8:56:49 GMT -5
It has been a little over 15 months since Lonnie was executed and the pain is just like it was yesterday. I simple cannot get over loosing him. It is so not real and I fight back the tears by the minute. I have tried all sorts of things and I have such a great support group, with friends and family, but it just does not help heal the pain. My heart feels like it is going to blow completely up inside of my chest at times. I am very aware of the fact that all people that have lost a loved one surely must feel the same way. I am not suggesting that my pain is any greater than anyone else's. I am just answering the post. I know how the victim's family feels and I want people to know that we are victims too. No matter how he died, he is still gone from my life and that is a void I do not seem to be able to fill. Thank you for asking about us and thank all of you for caring. I know I will always have friends and support here on this board, as well as several others, and for that I am grateful. You do help ease the pain for a short while. Know that you have caring and support even from those you don't know and may never hear from. May you be comforted with all those who mourn. |
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Post by legallybrunette on Aug 16, 2006 16:25:42 GMT -5
No, I am not a relative or family member, although I would question whether that is a pre-requisite of feeling for the predicament of those who are condemned to die, if that is the suggestion. So what issues does the book to which you refer, deal with?? If I understand you correctly then, you feel more strongly about the killing of an adult over that of a child?? Before I had my child, I was able to read articles about child killing, without getting too emotional but after having her, I found it absolutely impossible to even read about the facts of crimes against children. I guess it is an individual thing. I would also mention that I understand (at least from what is written in the English papers) that one of the jury who condemned Scott Peterson to die, has been a regular correspondent with him and he actually replies to her letters. Unfortunately, she has been quoted as saying that she hopes he will be able to bring himself to acknowledge his culpability in the crimes one day!! Nice, you really need friends like that when you hit rock bottom eh. |
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