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January 11, 2009
Alaska's political leaders talking up a return of the death penalty
As detailed in this local article, a number of notable political leaders in Alaska are talking about trying to bring the death penalty back to the state. Here are some of the details:
Incoming state House speaker Mike Chenault is pushing to reinstate the death penalty in Alaska, and Gov. Sarah Palin is all for it. So is state Rep. Jay Ramras, who says "hang 'em high," and that he would pass a death penalty bill out of the House Judiciary Committee, which he chairs.
But opponents, including influential members of the state Senate, say the death penalty is ineffective, expensive and racist....
Chenault's bill would allow the death penalty in cases of first-degree murder. But he has also talked about possibly including child molesters under it as well. The method of execution would be lethal injection under the bill....
Palin, a Republican, said in phone interview that she favors bringing the death penalty back to Alaska, particularly for cases where children are murdered. Someone who does that should not ever be able to again, she said. "Coming out of the chute, knowing that a lawmaker would pursue the death penalty in Alaska for murder, then I would support it," Palin said. "And then we'll see where he goes with the specifics."
January 11, 2009 at 12:59 AM | Permalink
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Comments
As this is your 8th article in 11 days of 2009, concerning the death penalty, it seems your protestations that debate and issues surrounding capital punishment take up an inordinate or disproportionate amount of time and space, are to be suppressed in the face of the reality that most active observers and participants think differently. You have yourself moved from "sitting on the fence" to proclaim moral justification with cost reservations. As the debate, evidence of error/abuse, and disparity of practice (both within and without the US) continues to intensify, perhaps we can hope for further movement from you back in the opposite direction. Whatever, I would plead for greater informed analysis and comment, rather than simple reporting. Without it, the debate is deadlocked and partisan - rather what we have come to expect from the Supreme Court unfortunately.
Posted by: Peter Bellamy | Jan 11, 2009 5:19:56 AM
So much for the culture of life huh?
Posted by: Student | Jan 11, 2009 9:56:19 AM
Since I have done over 40 posts already in 2009, the number devoted to the death penalty represents less than 20% of my blogging time/energy/commentary. If those who focus on the death penalty would start spending 80% of their time/energy/advocacy on non-capital sentencing, I might be more inclined to be more balanced in my own perspective.
Put differently, I think/fear that "most active observers and participants" of the death penalty have a blind spot concerning all the other injustices in criminal justice systems. When those injustices --- ranging from LWOP to long prison terms for non-violent offenders --- start getting more attention, I will be less troubled by all the people who worry so much about the fate of a few brutal killers who are destined to die in prison no matter whether a state uses the death penalty or not.
Posted by: Douglas A. Berman | Jan 11, 2009 11:05:25 AM
I agree there are other injustices in the criminal justice system that are not being addressed that are more egregious simply because of the numbers. The tens of thousands of inmates incarcerated with LWOP and long sentences for non violent offenders do represent an attitude that cheapens life and corrodes our values
That said, the death penalty raises the bar for our cultures pursuit of retribution and punishment. I don't know if there is indeed a relationship, this is just a point for consideration. We have aggressive investigation, prosecution and punishment throughout the system.
Posted by: beth | Jan 11, 2009 12:55:07 PM
I am one of these people who think that the death penalty isn't unconstitutional but should be. And this article illustrates why I think that. And that is the fact that politicians can't leave well enough alone and will use any scare tactic they can think of to get what they want. Today it's sex offenders. Or child killers. Or sex offenders who kill children. 50 years ago if people had there way it would have been gay people. Shoot, even today some people think that the penalty for gayness should be death. Taking someone life should be serious business by the state, and frankly I don't trust our politicians enough to do it right. Heck, I could even rally around "and eye for an eye". But then look at the truth, LA manged to get four justices to say that child rape is death eligible. That is plum crazy. I'm sorry, you give the state the power to kill people and there is no evidence that handle that power responsibly.
Posted by: Daniel | Jan 11, 2009 2:22:18 PM
Sandeep naik is the Youth leader of Navi Mumbai
Sandeep Naik’s aim is to make Navi Mumbai a place where one is known and judged by one's work and not caste, creed and religion. Sandeep Naik didn’t start his political career with a bang. Sandeep Naik instead has taken his time to adjust to the pitch of politics, taking one hesitant and even reluctant step after the other only after considerable deliberation. And from a just any other party worker of father’s Ganesh Naik’s brigade rose to become the Standing Committee Chairman of NMMC – for the second consecutive term. Sandeep Naik is a member of the MMRDA committee. It’s been politics from grass root up. Meet voters and meet local party workers.
For someone who has lived in a house of leaders like Ganesh Naik and Sanjeev Naik who have been in power from Navi Mumbai to Maharashtra, Sandeep Naik’s focus has been on understanding social and economic issues at ground level, trying out little development experiments or testing a new technology.....
http://sandeepnaik-navimumbai.blogspot.com
http://sandeepnaik-navimumbai.blogspot.com/2008/12/rise-of-sandeep-naik-charisma-and.html
http://www.nmtv.tv/shownews.php?id=3015
Posted by: vaibhav | Jan 17, 2009 6:45:02 AM
NMMC Standing Committee chairman Sandeep naik Discussions on Budget
The NMMC Standing Committee has completed the debates on the income aspect of the NMMC Budget 2008-09. Lets take a quick at the highlights of the debate held on the income part of the proposed NMMC budget 2008-2009.
• Standing Committee Chairman Sandeep Naik suggested outsourcing to increase income source if apathy prevailed in the municipal administration.
• He suggested the outsourcing of cess to make in additional Rs 125 crore in cess.
• Eateries to be graded for fixation of hotel license fees.
• Standing Committee mooted taming of cinema houses
• Sandeep Naik proposed a new account heads in the NMMC budget for joined development of Morbe Dam land, amusement Park, sale of excess water from Morbe and carbon credit....
http://sandeepnaik-navimumbai.blogspot.com/2008/12/nmmc-standing-committee-discussions-on.html
http://sandeepnaik-navimumbai.blogspot.com
Posted by: vaibhav | Jan 20, 2009 1:46:14 AM
Vishnudas Bhave with all New look Inaugurates by Thane Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik
Its good news definitely for all in Navi Mumbai as Vishnudas Bhave auditorium has reopened with a new look. The inaugural ceremony of the all new auditorium was done at the hands of State Excise and Environment Minister Ganesh Naik.
The much awaited renovation work of Vishnudas Bhave auditorium is finally over as the auditorium with an all new look was inaugurated recently. Post the blast in the auditorium, advanced...
http://ganeshnaik-navimumbai.blogspot.com
http://ganeshnaik-navimumbai.blogspot.com/2008/12/thane-guardian-minister-ganesh-naik.html
Posted by: vaibhav | Jan 20, 2009 2:57:06 AM
All people who are simply adding to Global warming has to be at least punished so that they know what they are doing.
Not a death penalty of course.
There are some who contribute to global warming out of neccessity and they can offset it by buying carbon credits. Carbon offsets aim to neutralize the amount of Co2 emissions contribution by funding projects which should cause an equal reduction of emissions somewhere else, such as tree planting. Under the premise, first reduce what you can, then offset the remainder, offsetting can be done by supporting a responsible carbon project, or by buying carbon credits. Thank you.
Posted by: Carbon Advice Group | Nov 23, 2009 8:12:49 PM
