# DC Sniper to be executed tonight **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 10, 2009, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-sniper-to-be-executed-tonight/517078 "2009-11-10T18:54:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-sniper-to-be-executed-tonight/517078/41 "2009-11-11T02:55:27Z")
> [@Tristan](#): > > Executed, declared dead at 21:11. Reached for comment Governor Timothy M. Kaine remarked “Oh shit, was that _tonight_?!” ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-sniper-to-be-executed-tonight/517078/42 "2009-11-11T03:06:55Z")
Good fucking riddance to him. No tears shed from me. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-sniper-to-be-executed-tonight/517078/43 "2009-11-11T03:12:36Z")
I won’t celebrate his death, but I certainly won’t mourn. And I send the families of his victims all the good wishes I can. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-sniper-to-be-executed-tonight/517078/44 "2009-11-11T03:24:23Z")
I wonder if Major Hasan watched the news tonight in his hospital room. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-sniper-to-be-executed-tonight/517078/45 "2009-11-11T03:25:46Z")
Has this brought any victims back to life? Didn’t think so. Once again, society commits murder. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-sniper-to-be-executed-tonight/517078/46 "2009-11-11T03:31:12Z")
Murder is a class of unlawful homicide. By definition, a legal execution is not murder. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-sniper-to-be-executed-tonight/517078/47 "2009-11-11T03:32:54Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > We are all being diminished a bit tonight. I dont feel diminished a bit, but I am a little thirsty. Thankfully I have a few Spaten Oktoberfests in the fridge… ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-sniper-to-be-executed-tonight/517078/48 "2009-11-11T03:42:00Z")
[QUOTE=Siam Sam] Good fucking riddance to him. No tears shed from me. [/QUOTE] Neutral here, neither jumping for joy nor shedding any tears (nor am I feeling particularly ‘diminished’ ;)). As I said, I think he got off easy. I also think that, from a monetary perspective, it’s a bad bargain…cheaper and better (IMHO) to lock the guy away for years or decades, and let him stew. [QUOTE=BobLibDem] Has this brought any victims back to life? Didn’t think so. Once again, society commits murder. [/QUOTE] No. But then, locking him up doesn’t bring them back either, so I’m unsure why you think it’s important. As for murder, you should look up the definition of that term before tossing it about. It’s not murder when it’s in lawful compliance with the law. granted, I think it’s a waste (of resources), and that we should stop doing it, but hyperbole really doesn’t help that much. -XT ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-sniper-to-be-executed-tonight/517078/49 "2009-11-11T03:46:22Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > I’m often reminded of the [Amish response](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amish_School_Shooting#Amish_response_with_forgiveness) to the Amish School House shooting in Pennsylvania; that’s an excellent example of a community expressing an almost unimaginable amount of forgiveness for a criminal. That’s a good model for anyone, religious or not. Remember that that criminal was already dead, however. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-sniper-to-be-executed-tonight/517078/50 "2009-11-11T03:49:07Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > I also think that, from a monetary perspective, it’s a bad bargain…cheaper and \ to lock the guy away for years or decades, and let him stew. > > -XT I’ve seen this arguement whenever this subject comes up, and I can’t figure out how executing someone is more expensive than imprisoning that same person. The cost of the state supporting him (food, clothes, medical care, just to start) for years or even decades must be astronomical. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-sniper-to-be-executed-tonight/517078/51 "2009-11-11T03:56:11Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > I’ve seen this arguement whenever this subject comes up, and I can’t figure out how executing someone is more expensive than imprisoning that same person. The cost of the state supporting him (food, clothes, medical care, just to start) for years or even decades must be astronomical. But the cost of proving someone is guilty to the extent necessary to execute him, with him almost certainly fighting every inch of the way instead of _ **ever** _ giving up is larger. Especially since death penalty cases are usually shoddily done, with bad evidence and an incompetent defense, and therefore more vulnerable to challenge. AND you still have to pay to support him, and I expect even more than normal to guard him. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-sniper-to-be-executed-tonight/517078/52 "2009-11-11T03:56:49Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > I’ve seen this arguement whenever this subject comes up, and I can’t figure out how executing someone is more expensive than imprisoning that same person. The cost of the state supporting him (food, clothes, medical care, just to start) for years or even decades must be astronomical. Death penalty cases have automatic appeals. I guess public defenders make obscene amounts of money. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-sniper-to-be-executed-tonight/517078/53 "2009-11-11T04:03:18Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > But the cost of proving someone is guilty to the extent necessary to execute him, with him almost certainly fighting every inch of the way instead of _ **ever** _ giving up is larger. Especially since death penalty cases are usually shoddily done, with bad evidence and an incompetent defense, and therefore more vulnerable to challenge. AND you still have to pay to support him, and I expect even more than normal to guard him. But a trial is going to happen either way. Life in prison or death, you still have the costs associated with prosecuting him. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-sniper-to-be-executed-tonight/517078/54 "2009-11-11T04:07:33Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > But a trial is going to happen either way. Life in prison or death, you still have the costs associated with prosecuting him. But if you go for an execution it’ll be much longer and more expensive, and he’s much less likely to just give up. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-sniper-to-be-executed-tonight/517078/55 "2009-11-11T04:10:18Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > I hate the death penalty . I only feel sadness when we kill someone. I feel sad because we are so bloodthirsty. We are all being diminished a bit tonight. Someday we be evolved and not feel good about taking a life. It is so 3rd world . It is atavistic . It is wrong. Would you be happy if news arrived that Osama Bin Laden was killed? Or if you had lived in 1945 would you be glad if you heard that Hitler had commited suicide? :dubious: Anyways good riddance to this sniper SOB and even if it does not deter crime the death penalty is necessary for the government to function absolute justice and morality. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-sniper-to-be-executed-tonight/517078/56 "2009-11-11T04:13:57Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > Would you be happy if news arrived that Osama Bin Laden was killed? Or if you had lived in 1945 would you be glad if you heard that Hitler had commited suicide? :dubious: > > Anyways good riddance to this sniper SOB and even if it does not deter crime the death penalty is necessary for the government to function absolute justice and morality. No I would not be happy if I heard Osama was killed. Why would I? I would rather Hitler and Osama go to trial. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-sniper-to-be-executed-tonight/517078/57 "2009-11-11T04:15:08Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > Anyways good riddance to this sniper SOB and even if it does not deter crime the death penalty is necessary for the government to function absolute justice and morality. No, it’s not. If anything it undercuts the “justice and morality” dispensed by the government. And there’s no such thing as “absolute justice and morality”. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-sniper-to-be-executed-tonight/517078/58 "2009-11-11T04:21:17Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > No, it’s not. If anything it undercuts the “justice and morality” dispensed by the government. > > And there’s no such thing as “absolute justice and morality”. You said that denying women abortion for instance was immoral and that killing a thinking, rational human being is immoral, thus is that not absolute morality or do you think there are exceptions to this other than self-defence? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-sniper-to-be-executed-tonight/517078/59 "2009-11-11T04:24:33Z")
We atheists have great respect for life. We actually believe people do not have a right to take a persons life. We see that there is no excuse for people to sink that low. Funny how easy the religious can abandon their commandments and not feel like hypocrites. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2009, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-sniper-to-be-executed-tonight/517078/60 "2009-11-11T04:33:45Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > We atheists have great respect for life. We actually believe people do not have a right to take a persons life. Is that an official athiest belief? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-sniper-to-be-executed-tonight/517078.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-sniper-to-be-executed-tonight/517078.md?page=4)