# Dzhokhar Tsarnaev: Should and Will He Get the Death Penalty? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 22, 2013, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dzhokhar-tsarnaev-should-and-will-he-get-the-death-penalty/656384 "2013-04-22T06:48:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dzhokhar-tsarnaev-should-and-will-he-get-the-death-penalty/656384/61 "2013-04-23T11:53:43Z")
If he did what he is accused of doing he should be removed from the rest of society permanently and in the most efficient manner possible. ---
**Author:** ![basset\_hound](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/basset_hound/32/1432_2.png) [@basset\_hound](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/basset_hound)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dzhokhar-tsarnaev-should-and-will-he-get-the-death-penalty/656384/62 "2013-04-23T11:57:22Z")
> [@Doggo](#): > > Death is too good for terrorists. They should be kept in isolation without any form of entertainment till they die. I agree with this. It is exactly what I advocate to replace the death penalty (terrorists or not). Implement a relatively quick system for all possible appeals. If denied, lock the person in a 7x7x7 soundproof room with no light source, period. The only human contact they are allowed occurs when food is slid on a tray into the cell. No reading, outside exercise, or other entertainment/communication of any sort. They get out when they die. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dzhokhar-tsarnaev-should-and-will-he-get-the-death-penalty/656384/63 "2013-04-23T14:13:16Z")
> [@basset\_hound](#): > > I agree with this. It is exactly what I advocate to replace the death penalty (terrorists or not). Implement a relatively quick system for all possible appeals. If denied, lock the person in a 7x7x7 soundproof room with no light source, period. The only human contact they are allowed occurs when food is slid on a tray into the cell. No reading, outside exercise, or other entertainment/communication of any sort. They get out when they die. Do we amend the constitution first, or just ignore it? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dzhokhar-tsarnaev-should-and-will-he-get-the-death-penalty/656384/64 "2013-04-23T14:22:35Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Do we amend the constitution first, or just ignore it? Amend it and then ignore it. That’ll ensure our moral superiority forever. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dzhokhar-tsarnaev-should-and-will-he-get-the-death-penalty/656384/65 "2013-04-23T16:20:11Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > No, it was nothing that dramatic or cinematic. If he’d done that someone would have caught him at the scene. He just didn’t react very much to the bombs. Well, there goes my pet theory. My thinking was that if they were simply talking about a lack of reaction they would have said so up front, and since presumably neither suspect would show surprise singling one out for their reaction might have been something more, although in retrospect the older brother may have simply not been on camera when they went off. As far as being apprehended at the scene, I didn’t expect anything _that_ dramatic - I was thinking “subtle inappropriate smile,” not so much “end zone dance.” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dzhokhar-tsarnaev-should-and-will-he-get-the-death-penalty/656384/66 "2013-04-23T20:19:18Z")
> [@Doggo](#): > > Death is too good for terrorists. They should be kept in isolation without any form of entertainment till they die. Yep. Sixty or so years to think about what they did. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dzhokhar-tsarnaev-should-and-will-he-get-the-death-penalty/656384/67 "2013-04-23T20:26:59Z")
> [@Blaster\_Master](#): > > I often hear one of the reasons that people oppose the death penalty is because it is a form of revenge, and then I see posts like this. IMO, our motivation should be justice, without revenge. Well, as I have always (correctly) pointed out, the death penalty is wrong, always and everywhere. I have yet to make a similar assertion regarding revenge. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dzhokhar-tsarnaev-should-and-will-he-get-the-death-penalty/656384/68 "2013-04-23T20:41:06Z")
While I happen to think a public hanging is appropriate in this case - I can’t help but to think that a more appropriate punishment is to have random people drop backpacks off in his cell randomly - and sometimes they go BOOM and they are just outside his reach to avoid. (not explosive, but noise affect loud enough to put you on your ass). ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dzhokhar-tsarnaev-should-and-will-he-get-the-death-penalty/656384/69 "2013-04-23T20:53:57Z")
A tiny, vicious, black-hearted part of me wants this guy to have his limbs blown off by explosives, then spend some time in jail to think about it. Since that’s not going to happen, I vote we just kill him. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dzhokhar-tsarnaev-should-and-will-he-get-the-death-penalty/656384/70 "2013-04-23T21:34:36Z")
Instead of blowing his limbs off, why don’t we transplant them to the bombing victims that lost theirs? Besides, this way he’ll fit better in his small cell. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dzhokhar-tsarnaev-should-and-will-he-get-the-death-penalty/656384/71 "2013-04-23T21:42:16Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Instead of blowing his limbs off, why don’t we transplant them to the bombing victims that lost theirs? Besides, this way he’ll fit better in his small cell. maybe he can be made to fit in a backpack and dropped off at various locations. ---
**Author:** ![basset\_hound](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/basset_hound/32/1432_2.png) [@basset\_hound](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/basset_hound)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dzhokhar-tsarnaev-should-and-will-he-get-the-death-penalty/656384/72 "2013-04-23T22:21:57Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Do we amend the constitution first, or just ignore it? Considering the crime, I don’t think of it as being cruel and/or unusual punishment, but I’m not on the Supreme Court. Given the choice, I’d prefer to appreciate your good-natured sarcasm as we go through the process of amending the constitution (unless the USSC rules that particular sentence not unconstitutional in certain cases). As for the latter option, the past two administrations have each ignored the constitution more than enough for my taste. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2013, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dzhokhar-tsarnaev-should-and-will-he-get-the-death-penalty/656384/73 "2013-04-23T23:52:50Z")
> [@simster](#): > > maybe he can be made to fit in a backpack and dropped off at various locations. _Stoneface_ _Stoneface_ Bwhaaaaa… okay by me. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dzhokhar-tsarnaev-should-and-will-he-get-the-death-penalty/656384/74 "2013-04-24T01:50:29Z")
I’m against the death penalty, so no. Will he get it? I suspect there’s a reasonable chance he won’t, but my money would be on the “he gets it” side of the action. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dzhokhar-tsarnaev-should-and-will-he-get-the-death-penalty/656384/75 "2013-04-24T14:09:51Z")
> [@basset\_hound](#): > > Considering the crime, I don’t think of it as being cruel and/or unusual punishment, but I’m not on the Supreme Court. Given the choice, I’d prefer to appreciate your good-natured sarcasm as we go through the process of amending the constitution (unless the USSC rules that particular sentence not unconstitutional in certain cases). As for the latter option, the past two administrations have each ignored the constitution more than enough for my taste. If taken to the SCOTUS, I have no doubt it would be deemed Cruel and Unusual, so whether the administration chose to ignore it or not, this is one instance when they would be overruled. ---
**Author:** ![Pixeldated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Pixeldated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixeldated)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dzhokhar-tsarnaev-should-and-will-he-get-the-death-penalty/656384/76 "2013-04-24T15:17:29Z")
> [@Esco](#): > > Life in jail is a far worse punishment then DP They should infect him with AIDS, then try a bunch of experimental pharmaceuticals or surgeries or implants or some other crazy medical theory on him on him to see if any of them work. They could save years from skipping the animal trials. > [@lieu](#): > > Instead of blowing his limbs off, why don’t we transplant them to the bombing victims that lost theirs? Besides, this way he’ll fit better in his small cell. Definitely, or his organs. Lots of people out there could use some spare organs. ---
**Author:** ![Scholar\_Beardpig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@Scholar\_Beardpig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scholar_Beardpig)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dzhokhar-tsarnaev-should-and-will-he-get-the-death-penalty/656384/77 "2013-04-24T15:18:12Z")
He probably will get the death penalty, but I hope not. I am opposed to judicial executions, and this is no exception. If he is found guilty in a proper trial, then I would be in favor of a lifetime prison sentence, without undue duress or hardship. I still would like to hear his side of the story. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dzhokhar-tsarnaev-should-and-will-he-get-the-death-penalty/656384/78 "2013-04-24T16:37:16Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I disagree. Even if he were tried and convicted, I don’t agree with the imposition of the death penalty in his case, or indeed in almost any case in the modern-day United States. So I am perfectly happy to jump straight to an opinion that answers the question. This, with the exception of the “almost any” part. He did a horrible thing, but our death penalty procedures are fundamentally flawed. Stuff him in a prison and throw away the key (assuming he’s guilty). ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dzhokhar-tsarnaev-should-and-will-he-get-the-death-penalty/656384/79 "2013-04-24T16:57:19Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > This, with the exception of the “almost any” part. He did a horrible thing, but our death penalty procedures are fundamentally flawed. Stuff him in a prison and throw away the key (assuming he’s guilty). I think the death penalty, irrespective of what procedures are used, is fundamentally flawed. Did you mean to imply that if we fixed the procedures, you’d be OK with it? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dzhokhar-tsarnaev-should-and-will-he-get-the-death-penalty/656384/80 "2013-04-24T17:05:28Z")
When I was a kid, I thought the death penalty was a really good idea. Of course, we didn’t really have it in the UK\* so it was essentially academic. Then I found out it costs more than life imprisonment and didn’t see the point. Later, I found out about the massive racial disparity in DP sentencing that exists in most jurisdictions, and that a significant number of people had been exonerated once sentenced to death. If I could think about it in a vacuum I might be against it on principle by now, but I can’t and hence I’m not sure. \*IIRC, the only capital offence in English & Welsh law is treason. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dzhokhar-tsarnaev-should-and-will-he-get-the-death-penalty/656384.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dzhokhar-tsarnaev-should-and-will-he-get-the-death-penalty/656384.md?page=5)