Democrat’s move prevents these people from executions under future governors, after Christa Pike’s failed execution
Gavin Newsom, California’s governor, has commuted the death sentences of more than 500 people on the state’s death row on Thursday, a move that ensures they can never be executed under future administrations.
The Democrat’s mass commutation at the end of his term has converted all of the state’s death sentences to life without the possibility of parole, the largest clearing of any US death row in modern history.
The move comes after the failed execution of Christa Pike in Tennessee sparked global outrage and renewed calls for a nationwide pause on capital punishment.
I’ll try to say something a little more precise, I hope. I have limited sympthy for the individual fate of somebody who does some of the things that can get a person executed, but the death penalty itself is not a good thing.
I just don’t see the value in revenge, and as much as we all feel for victims, the reason you have society make these decisions is because you know victims and their families can’t be objective. Maybe some of them will even really feel better, but the rest of us won’t. The death penalty can only go wrong, either by being inequitably applied or literally dooming the wrong person to die with no way to salvage what’s left of their lives if you learn of the mistake later. Or hell, with recent attempts, it can just literally go wrong and torture someone, maybe even without even killing them.
Permanent removal from free society is more than sufficient for public safety and deterrence. More blood doesn’t bring anyone’s loved ones back; it just makes a community that much more grim for indulging its worst instincts.
I’m not going to argue with you on the why to ban the death penalty. We both agree it should be banned. Honestly the reasons we arrive at the same answer are immaterial.