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  • MONDAY MAY 16 2005 9:00 PM

Connecticut Man "Volunteers" for Execution

Submitted by AbeVigoda

Edited by Michael_J_Totten

The State of Connecticut executed Michael Ross by lethal injection. The last execution in Connecticut, or in all of liberal-minded New England for that matter, was in 1960 when Joseph Taborsky was executed via the electric chair.

His death sparked much public debate in the northeast United States, where executions are rare. Most executions in America take place in southern states.


Connecticut, the only New England state with the death penalty, currently has 7 others on death row. The state is very conservative in its implementation, though, and has an exhaustive appeals process. The Ivy League educated serial killer, however, last fall abandoned all remaining appeals and said "I owe these people. I killed their daughters. If I could stop the pain, I have to do that. This is my right," forcing Connecticut to proceed with extracting it's pound of flesh.

Death penalty foes around New England were frustrated by Ross' insistence on being executed, making him what capital punishment experts call a "volunteer."


The list of countries that permit the death penalty includes such progressive nations as Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, and North Korea. The death penalty is banned in all Western countries except the United States.

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Comments
Jaron

Jaron

Lethbridge, AB
September 2004

MAY 16, 2005 09:23 PM

While the death penatly isn't a good idea... Canada's prison system doesn't really work the way it should.

Infra

Infra

La Crosse, WI
November 2003

MAY 16, 2005 10:24 PM

As much as I'm against the death penalty in general... I don't see the problem with volunteers. So long as the person is of sound enough mind to make the decision, and so long as they and the victims or their families feel that this is the only way to make amends, what's so wrong with letting them fall on their sword?

Telltale

Telltale

USA
May 2004

MAY 16, 2005 10:28 PM

It's fucking "its" for possesion, not "it's"

Goddamnit!

s5

s5

San Francisco, CA
OLD SKOOL

MAY 16, 2005 10:28 PM

the fact that there are volunteers demonstrates that death isn't necessarily the ultimate punishment. forcing this person to live forever with the full horror of what they did weighing on his conscience could very well be far worse than a quick shot in the arm.

Infra

Infra

La Crosse, WI
November 2003

MAY 16, 2005 10:34 PM

s5 said:
the fact that there are volunteers demonstrates that death isn't necessarily the ultimate punishment. forcing this person to live forever with the full horror of what they did weighing on his conscience could very well be far worse than a quick shot in the arm.



I'm a bit confused about what you're saying here... I get the part about the death penalty not being the ultimate deterrent, but are you suggesting that volunteering for the death penalty perhaps shouldn't be allowed due to the potentially more severe consequence, at least in terms of the psychological and emotional burden, of life imprisonment?

I don't mean to put words in your mouth. Just asking for a little clarification. wink

keagan

keagan

Orlando, FL
October 2004

MAY 16, 2005 10:36 PM

Some people deserve the death penalty. While I dont completely know this guys story and can't condemn him personally. I beleive some crimes merit death. Just my opinion.

AbeVigoda

AbeVigoda

Portland, OR
August 2003

MAY 16, 2005 10:45 PM

keagan said:
Some people deserve the death penalty. While I dont completely know this guys story and can't condemn him personally. I beleive some crimes merit death. Just my opinion.




Where do you draw the line? How do you prove guilt beyond any doubt? The state can let someone out of prison, it's a bit harder once they've been killed.



JayHawk, I'm aware of the differences between possessives and contractions, it was a typo. blackeyed

s5

s5

San Francisco, CA
OLD SKOOL

MAY 16, 2005 10:48 PM

Infra said:
I'm a bit confused about what you're saying here... I get the part about the death penalty not being the ultimate deterrent, but are you suggesting that volunteering for the death penalty perhaps shouldn't be allowed due to the potentially more severe consequence, at least in terms of the psychological and emotional burden, of life imprisonment?



i'm against the death penalty, so my point was to show that an argument used by death penalty advocates isn't necessarily true.

Telltale

Telltale

USA
May 2004

MAY 16, 2005 10:53 PM

ThePassenger said:

keagan said:
Some people deserve the death penalty. While I dont completely know this guys story and can't condemn him personally. I beleive some crimes merit death. Just my opinion.




Where do you draw the line? How do you prove guilt beyond any doubt? The state can let someone out of prison, it's a bit harder once they've been killed.



JayHawk, I'm aware of the differences between possessives and contractions, it was a typo. blackeyed





Yeah, I guessed. I'm just tired and a grammar nazi. You should really read over your stuff before you submit for news, though.

Michael_J_Totten

Michael_J_Totten

Iraq
February 2004

MAY 16, 2005 10:54 PM

keagan said:
Some people deserve the death penalty.


I agree. Some people also deserve to be tortured. But that doesn't mean it's something civilized countries ought to be doing.

AbeVigoda

AbeVigoda

Portland, OR
August 2003

MAY 16, 2005 11:00 PM

JayHawk said:
Yeah, I guessed. I'm just tired and a grammar nazi. You should really read over your stuff before you submit for news, though.




Did that, sometimes thigs slip through, but that's what editors are for, right MJT? confused wink





Edited to add wink, just to make sure MJT knows I'm kidding.

[Edited on May 17, 2005 2:05AM]

AbeVigoda

AbeVigoda

Portland, OR
August 2003

MAY 16, 2005 11:16 PM

dkmfc said:
damn you people are lame. as I pointed out here,
he, himself had a typo.

yet you're trying to explain why yours happened.

my subtle point in my original post was "we all make mistakes".
now here's me not being subtle. we all make mistakes.

and jayhawk, don't throw stones if you're fucking up too. if you're going to criticize grammar, at least do it right yourself in the very post you are using to criticize.

edited because I sounded harsher than normal. but goddamn I hate that nitpicky shit. biggrin

[Edited on May 17, 2005 by dkmfc]



You know, it is customary to capitalize the first word of a sentence. wink biggrin

Now, back to the Death Penalty and why it's archaic.

cgiacobone

cgiacobone

Three Rivers, MI
January 2003

MAY 16, 2005 11:55 PM

JayHawk said:
It's fucking "its" for possesion, not "it's"

Goddamnit!



no shit...

cgiacobone

cgiacobone

Three Rivers, MI
January 2003

MAY 16, 2005 11:55 PM

JayHawk said:
It's fucking "its" for possesion, not "it's"

Goddamnit!



no shit...

Michael_J_Totten

Michael_J_Totten

Iraq
February 2004

MAY 17, 2005 12:15 AM

JayHawk said:
It's fucking "its" for possesion, not "it's"

Goddamnit!


Indeed.

"It's" means "it is."

It's (it is) now fixed, by the way.

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