Washington State Supreme Court eliminates the death penalty

[MillCreek]

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Washington has had a defacto moratorium on the death penalty for years. Our current governor stated that no one would be executed while he was in office. The last execution in Washington was in 2010.  In consideration of the legal expenses for the appeals, I am of the opinion it is cheaper to keep them in prison for life than to execute them.

[just Warren]

And giving people life sentences doesn't attract the crazy do-gooder brigades.

The convict just gets forgotten instead becoming a cause to rally around.

And if it turns out he or she was wrongly convicted then they are still alive. 

[charby]

I am of the opinion it is cheaper to keep them in prison for life than to execute them.

I think that a life in prison is a far crueler punishment than being executed. The world changes around you, but you are locked in a fortress and live a life of the same routine.

I think if you are given a life sentence without parole, then you are only allowed on outside visitor once every 5 years for only 30 minutes.

[Ned Hamford]

What Warren and Charby said in the last two posts. 

[BobR]

At least that will put an end to the fat people getting out of hanging because it might yank their head off!!

bob

[just Warren]

You and your gallows humor.

[MillCreek]

Oh, how I wish Bob was joking.  Bob and I both remember the tale of Mitchell Rupe: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitchell_Rupe

[just Warren]

Props to liver disease!

[MechAg94]

I think it would be much much better had the Washington State legislature passed a bill to do that instead of the courts just declaring a decision.  IMO, that is part of the problem with controversial political issues in this country.
 
The elected Governor could also just commute all the sentences to life in prison.

[Angel Eyes]

At least that will put an end to the fat people getting out of hanging because it might yank their head off!!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Ketchum

Ketchum was executed by hanging in Clayton. Nobody in Clayton had any experience in conducting hangings; the rope was too long, and since Ketchum had gained a significant amount of weight during his time in jail, he was decapitated when he dropped through the trap door.

[MechAg94]

Well, he did hang until he was dead.

[MillCreek]

Props to liver disease!

It gets worse: Mr. Rupe contracted Hep C in prison and was being seriously considered for a liver transplant when he died.  There was much debate over the rationality and expense of giving a liver to a death row inmate.  It is not as if livers grow on trees.