I have no philosphical problems with the death penalty inasmuch as I believe people’s actions can forfeit their right to live among us in civil society. That said, I don’t believe we are well served by it in most instances due to reckless use of it, and in this case, granting someone the martyrdom the seek. He should get life in solitary, and I mean total isolation. No books, no letters, no TV, no interaction with anyone at all. Just four walls and sensory deprivation so profound that he resorts to gnawing his own flesh and babbling to himself.

And as usual an article that discusses everything but the cost in human life to keep murderers in jail for life. Last year 7 prison guards were murdered, mostly by lifers. In a recent year 23 were murdered–but–Hell who cares as long as I feel good about being against cap punishment.
The last time I mentioned this another commenter reminded me about how many other prisoners incarcerated for lesser offenses have wound up murdered by lifers in prison. I didn’t reply further at the time, but the comment reminded me of a news story from a few years back about a young man somewhere out West who was in prison for some minor offense for one or two months. He was murdered in jail. At the time the story was big news, but now it has gone down the media’s Orwellian memory hole when cap punishment comes up.
So far, I can’t find the statistic anywhere for number of prisoners in for lesser offenses murdered by lifers while in prison. But then again I presume other prisoner’s lives are even of less value than guard’s lives to anti-cap Crusaders since noone seems to even gather such statistics.

I’m against the death penalty because I believe that even the most heinous of people can redeem themselves. I know it is a bit idealistic and possibly naive but I think that even the worst of us should get a chance for redemption. The death penatly limits this opportunity.

I agree with Dan.
We should always hold out hope for redemption in this life.
We are called to love our enemies.
It is part of our being Christians.
And it is not as though our society is not able to bear their confinement.
I am not sure that the possibly retribution focused option of solitary confinement forever leaves open a ray of light for the possibility of redemption though.

If I were looking for revenge I would certainly opt for life without parole since, as I have said before, I can think of no worse punishment or indignity than being locked up like an animal with no chance to escape.
I also wonder just what the life expectancy Mohammed would have in an American prison. When he is killed by another prisoner we can wash our hands of his death.

We should not give these terrorists the benefit of becoming a “martyr” for their twisted interpretation of their faith. They watned to die killing so we should not allow that to happen. Give them jail for life or keep them forever in Guantanamo.

While I feel that the eye for an eye part of the Bible has a point in that cowardly murderers of this nature might deserve the death penalty, I object to giving them the world stage and martyrdom that they want. They do not deserve that dignity. In fact, if we could reduce the publicity value of the trial as much as possible that would be even better. When they murdered our citizens, they could no longer make plans and get what they wanted from life. They should be repaid the same way. What they want, they don’t get including martyrdom. That is the way I feel, and it does not soil our hands with their blood.

I am opposed to the death penalty for KSM, life in prison would be a much better alternative for a variety of reasons. He should also be imprisoned humanely under the same sort of conditions we hold other dangerous criminals. All people should be entitled to the right to a fair trial. In both real and imagined senses, terrorists like KSM are responding to perceived defects in how our country conducts itself abroad. Abiding by the principles that we proclaim in our Constitution would improve our security as a nation. Waterboarding this guy 187 times was immoral and absolutely builds resolve in our enemies.
The trial will be interesting I think becuase it will actually be two trials. KSM’s trial will likely be rather mundane, like Zacarius Moussaoui (who got a civil trial on US soil I might add). At the same time though, Dick Cheney and his administration will be on trial as well. This is what all the fuss is really about, bringing shameful conduct into the light of day.
As to KSM’s punishment, remember that Moussaoui received a life sentence. Also, as a practical matter, understand the the EU and a host of other states refuse to provide any intelligence or evidence about these terrorists if used to seek the death penalty. Seeking this punishment would gravely endanger our country’s security interests. So in the end, the death penalty fails on both practical and moral grounds. Catholics are also called to oppose the death penalty at the present time.

This is all of a piece with the whole “showtrial” aspect of what Obama and Holder are doing with this fake trial (see Krauthammer to get the gist of how phony it is). http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZjAxZWY3OWMyY2ZkMmE5NzI3ZGFmYmI2NWNjZDQ3ZDc=
Sr. Camille’s concern is authentic, I am sure, but even she must know that the chances of KSM or any of these terror suspects being put to death in NY is NIL. The death penalty is “legal” in NY, but unused, and the state legislature will make it illegal if it must.
So, I am not going to cast aspersions on Sr. Camille’s sincerity; I am sure it is real. But I suggest it has more to do with her own political commitment to wiping out the death penalty in the US (which btw, is ok with me), than with any genuine concerns she has about these men being put to death.
Now that they are defendants they’re presumed innocent, right? They may not even be convicted.
That, I mind about. I also mind about Holder and Obama playing games with the whole notion that there is a “trial” where the suspect “no matter what” will never be free again. If that doesn’t chill civil libertarians, I don’t know what will.

Ah yes! More comments without a concern in the world for the murder of prison guards (and other inmates) by anti-cap punishment crusader’s beloved murderers. I guess the cost in human life to keep murderer’s in jail for life is beneath their dignity to even think about. (Or is it they feel supremely guilty that they are expecting others to die to make their consciences feel so superior.

Hi John…
You’ve mentioned in a couple of posts the tragedy of inmates killing prison guards — suggesting that this problem would be alleviated if the death penalty were strictly enforced.
I haven’t been able to find any statistics on the numbers of inmates who have killed prison guards. Can you give me some guidance? I’d also be curious to know how many of those inmates who killed guards (or other inmates) were imprisoned for capital crimes.
Thanks and God bless,
Greg.