CatherineM Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 I'm doing a paper for Moral Theology on the death penalty. I'm working on the racial discrimination aspect. In US history, around 16,000 people have been executed. Of those, only 30 have been where a white person has been convicted of killing a black person. The state of Florida has never executed a white man who killed a black man. When the issue of the disproportionate racial bias in capital cases was brought before the Supreme Court, they acknowledged this racial bias, but called it inevitable, and refused to over turn convictions based on racial discrimination. I don't want to get into a big fight about whether we should have the death penalty or not. I guess I'm just fussing with the fact that if we are going to have it in the US, it should be applied fairly. If you're black and poor, you are much more likely to get the needle than if you are white and wealthy. That's not how stuff is supposed to work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luigi Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 Catherine, you've been around long enough to know that few things work the way the should. Let's all clear our throats... tune up on middle-C... Now... One, two, three, and "Somewhere over the rainbow..." Still, I hear your frustration and disgust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AccountDeleted Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 There is no (or at least very little) justice in earthly courts. Thank God our Heavenly Father is just and merciful! I have a friend who works as a defense attorney for death row inmates, handling last minute appeals etc. It is a very tough job requiring a lot of strength of character. She gets discouraged but she does it because she believes that somebody has to fight for those who have no voice. I know this isn't about the death penalty but about its unfair application of it - but sometimes you just have to wonder if it wouldn't be better if we erred on the side of mercy instead of so-called justice. Especially since mistakes are made. You are dealing witha difficult topic, remember to keep turning back to the Lord and reminding yourself that at least He is just. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missionseeker Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 [quote name='CatherineM' timestamp='1299473685' post='2218737'] I'm doing a paper for Moral Theology on the death penalty. I'm working on the racial discrimination aspect. In US history, around 16,000 people have been executed. Of those, only 30 have been where a white person has been convicted of killing a black person. The state of Florida has never executed a white man who killed a black man. When the issue of the disproportionate racial bias in capital cases was brought before the Supreme Court, they acknowledged this racial bias, but called it inevitable, and refused to over turn convictions based on racial discrimination. I don't want to get into a big fight about whether we should have the death penalty or not. I guess I'm just fussing with the fact that if we are going to have it in the US, it should be applied fairly. If you're black and poor, you are much more likely to get the needle than if you are white and wealthy. That's not how stuff is supposed to work. [/quote] When I was a teenager, I gave a speech (4-H) using those numbers in Alabama. It was a very interesting experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIKolbe Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 [quote name='CatherineM' timestamp='1299473685' post='2218737'] I'm doing a paper for Moral Theology on the death penalty. I'm working on the racial discrimination aspect. In US history, around 16,000 people have been executed. Of those, only 30 have been where a white person has been convicted of killing a black person. The state of Florida has never executed a white man who killed a black man. When the issue of the disproportionate racial bias in capital cases was brought before the Supreme Court, they acknowledged this racial bias, but called it inevitable, and refused to over turn convictions based on racial discrimination. I don't want to get into a big fight about whether we should have the death penalty or not. I guess I'm just fussing with the fact that if we are going to have it in the US, it should be applied fairly. If you're black and poor, you are much more likely to get the needle than if you are white and wealthy. That's not how stuff is supposed to work. [/quote] Clearly your sources are bleeding heart liberals who hate America and love her enemies! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatherineM Posted March 7, 2011 Author Share Posted March 7, 2011 [quote name='missionseeker' timestamp='1299491381' post='2218781'] When I was a teenager, I gave a speech (4-H) using those numbers in Alabama. It was a very interesting experience. [/quote] Back when I was doing death penalty appeal stuff, Alabama only paid court appointed attorneys $20/hour. $40/hour for court time. The only ones who signed up were the drunks and drug addicts and kids straight out of law school who couldn't get a job in a law firm. Exactly who you'd want defending your life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenzeler Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 This would upset me too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkwright Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 Cath - do you have any more stats? Of the 30 how many from TX (just interested since TX I believe has the rate of execution)? How many white people have been executed for any type of crime? On the flip side, how many blacks have been executed for killing whites? or black on black? Very interesting... Not sure if its possible, and probably too daunting of a task, but I wonder how many convictions there are for whites killing blacks, then compare that with the death sentences. Though I guess when you're in Florida its 0%, and with only 30 in our entire nation/history, its most likely 1-2% of all white killing black murders result in the death penalty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatherineM Posted March 8, 2011 Author Share Posted March 8, 2011 I'm sure some of the stats should be interpreted since the Civil War since before that killing a black person was treated like killing someone's pet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercy me Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 What are the rates for white on black 1st degree murder? The murder rate in the black community had been disproportionally higher than among other races but it has been primarily black on black. I am asking because it has been a long time since I saw the statistics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercy me Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 (edited) oops. double post Edited March 9, 2011 by Mercy me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Adam Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Well, we only stopped forcibly sterilizing black women in 1972 to start aborting their children in 1973...so this should not be too surprising. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missionseeker Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 [quote name='CatherineM' timestamp='1299516118' post='2218822'] Back when I was doing death penalty appeal stuff, Alabama only paid court appointed attorneys $20/hour. $40/hour for court time. The only ones who signed up were the drunks and drug addicts and kids straight out of law school who couldn't get a job in a law firm. Exactly who you'd want defending your life. [/quote] Funny thing... Alabama still has problems paying its attorneys... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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