Re: Not always joking, it seems

Joe Ellis <synthfilker@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> "D.F. Manno" <dfmanno@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>> jamesd@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 wrote:
>>> We really need a system where in straightforward cases, in some
>>> large proportion of murders, if the murderer is arrested red
>>> handed Friday night, he gets hanged in the public square at
>>> noon Saturday.

>> In other words, you want to repeal a large portion of the Bill
>> of Rights.

> You know, that's not what he said at all, and I suspect you know
> that as well as anyone.

It's implicit in what he said.  Some cases are straightforward, but
to decide whether a particular case is straightforward is not at all
straightforward, and can't be done that quickly.  At least not without
an extremely high error rate.

The error rate on death penalty cases is already way too high.

> Simple?  No.  Effective in deterring murders in general, and some
> specific cases in particular?  Oh yeah.

What would be even simpler and more effective is for the intended
victim to stop the criminal.  There's far less chance of a mistake
that way, and it prevents not just future crimes, but the first
crime too.
-- 
Keith F. Lynch - http://keithlynch.net/
Please see http://keithlynch.net/email.html
before emailing me.