Sorry to hear you got a lot of abuse Gill. Been there and done it too. Some cases are like a spark to a flame on the PRO board.
Many on there do not believe anyone innocent is on death row. they believe that courts, judges, prosecutors and all ALWAYS get it right. They have closed minds at times.
I think we have to keep in mind that the DP is a very emotive subject and that strong opinions on both sides.
Which is no reason for disrespect of people and their beliefs.
Some of the people on the pro board just do not understand that death row inmates are human beings. Or why anyone would want to show any kindness to them.
I think too that when you get people on forums like that many take on personalities and say things they probably wouldnt say in person to you. people can hide behind message boards and emails.
personally, if someone is pro I have learned to respect that opinion. And I want them to respect mine.
I think sometimes people focus soley on the crime commited and cannot see any further than that for whatever reason.
Also on the pro board there are some murder victims families and I think perhaps we should understand their point of view without agreeing with them of course.
Efrain Perez and his co defendents committed a horrific crime. AND is the reason the pro board began in the first place. Charlene the owner of it began the board because of these murders.
I used to write to Efrain also:) so I am not bashing him or any of the others. But I do also remember what they did while knowing i do not want any of them dead.
I Think some pros think we anti's do not care about the crimes or the victims. And we all know that is not true.
I gave up with the pro board mostly because all it is, is a lot of opinions that go round and round in circles. wanna be lawyers "retrying" cases and putting their own slant to things. I guess we antis could be accused of that too:)
THey want to change our minds and we want to change theirs. It isnt happening. SO I gave up trying its less stressful.
AT the end of the day, the boards are where people are meant to discuss cases supposedly in a rational and respectful way and it doesnt always happen. and do they have any real effect on cases? I Dont think so.
One thing that I wonder about is why are people who have never been a murder victims family feel so strongly and believe that execution is the solution?
NO one ever explained that to me.
I have many pro friends and I respect their right to have their beliefs and they do mine too.
THe pro board can be a vicious place to be on if you are anti and write to inmates.
ALways remember that people learn by example and if we dont get into mud slinging and insults etc, then the person throwing the dirt has lost the debate anyway because they cant control their mouths or fingers on the keyboard.
WE get accused of not sticking to the facts, not showing the states case and being biased towards the inmate.
In many cases some sites are like that for DR inmates.
I think we have to acknowledge that some people should never leave prison. Some horrfic acts are commited and most on death row are actually guilty people.
When trying to defend an inmate we should always have both sides of the case or you will be attacked for being biased.
Despite knowing that there have been terrible crimes commited we still do not believe that execution is the solutiuon. We fight for what is seen the worst of the worst in people and pros dont understand that.
we know killing someone is not going to bring back the victim. OR make the pain of the family go away.
So we should try to be rational at all times:) Which is hard at times when a penfriend is being attacked like this.