Article on Florida execution.

[Ranb]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/12/14/diaz.execution.ap/index.html

I was reading the above article and paused after reading this line, "If Floridians could witness the pain and the agony of the executed man's family, they would end the death penalty."

My first thought was "If Floridians could witness the pain and the agony of the MURDER VICTIM, they would NOT end the death penalty."

This was not one of those cases that seems to be iron clad. The article was not long on details. There were no witnesses other than the victim, and the condemned man went to his death saying he was innocent.

Ranb

 

[Skeptic]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/12/14/diaz.execution.ap/index.html

I was reading the above article and paused after reading this line, "If Floridians could witness the pain and the agony of the executed man's family, they would end the death penalty."

My first thought was "If Floridians could witness the pain and the agony of the MURDER VICTIM, they would NOT end the death penalty."

The point the article is making, I think, is that the murderer's family is not guilty of a crime, not that the murderer himself is. The problem with the argument is that by this argument nobody should ever be punished severely since it will pain their family.