General News Theater shooter Holmes gets 12 life sentences, plus 3,318 years

Um, he killed and injured dozens of innocents. I think that's well deserved...

 

Why do American criminals get these massive sentences? In this case I'm wondering why he's gotten a life sentence and 3000 years, surely the life sentence would be sufficient?

 

That doesn't accomplish anything.

 

If you care about that situation, I suggest supporting the decriminalisation or commutation of petty crimes, rather than exciting yourself over the prospect of brutality.

The sentence sounds ridiculous, as do all "life plus x years" sentences, but at least it's rather watertight, as far as I know from what I've read.

 

I wonder how they reached the exact number of 3318 years.

 

In some states, "Life without parole" really means "25 years," so by giving them a sentence where the parole consideration minimum is outside the frame of a natural lifespan, they ensure they will never get out of prison. The BTK serial killer is serving 175 years for his 10 murders over 25 years because in Kansas, "Life without parole" means "ineligible for parole until after 40 years have been served."

 

So if he is doomed to die in prison, what's wrong with a death sentence?

 

Killing him won't solve anything. Besides, it costs more money to execute someone than keep them behind bars for life. I'm pretty sure he'll be killed by someone on the inside before something like natural causes picks him off first.

Either way, fuck him and his crazed supporters and followers.

 

Thank goodness; glad he never has a chance of getting out.

 

(*hug*)

Bit different to Britain then

 

The difference is that, from my understanding, in most other countries, LWOP is so rare that it practically is the death penalty. In my state of Michigan, first degree murder is an automatic life no parole sentence, no questions asked. Here, life means life, unless you get what's called an indeterminate sentence, in which the minimum amount of time you'll spend locked up is set, but no maximum. This is commonly known as "25 to life."

Second degree murder here in Michigan is punished by "Life or any number of years." One guy in Detroit who shot a girl through a locked door and claimed self defense was let off with 17-32 years, meaning the minimum he'll serve is 17 years, but he must be released after 32 years.

It all depends on the state.

 

Why has Cecil the lion been running rampant in the news, but I've barely heard a peep on this?

 

The reason for the long sentence has to do with being punished for each crime and state laws, people think 3000+ is just some random number its not.

Killing him by cutting off his head and displaying it in front of the prison wont solve anything. I hate how people think the death penalty or public executions will deter future crimes, they don't. You really think someone this messed up was sitting behind the theater before the massacre thinking he should call it off because he might be executed?!

Lastly, I'm against the death penalty for a few reasons this is not one of them but the death penalty is far more costly, also an inmate on death row cost more than an inmate serving a life sentence

---------- Post added 26th Aug 2015 at 11:35 PM ----------

I haven't heard anything about Cecil in 2? weeks, this on the other hand has been ALL over the news.

 

So wait, if he has no chance of ever getting out of prison, why are our tax dollars going to pay for him to live? Is the death sentence/implementation really that inhumane for someone with no chance of ever getting off? Let's waste more money on him to live for the next 80 years on our dime. :dry:

 

Because the death penalty costs more?

 

Someone explain this to me. I've heard this more than a few times.

An execution may be a costly event but, once it's done, it's done. I think his housing, food, and care management over 30 to 40 years would be more costly. It would appear that way.

I'm wondering what they will do with him as far as his placement goes. Some high profile people end up in solitary confinement. Others have been exposed to the general prison population. That's what got Jeffrey Dahmer killed. If they incarcerate high profile criminals with heinous crimes, putting them with the general prison population might accomplish what the death penalty would have accomplished.

I also wonder what Holmes wanted for a sentence, not that it mattered. He seemed completely oblivious to everything from photos and accounts of the event. I'm sure there's a lot of classified information we don't know, but knowing what was and is inside his head has to be alarming. His parents pleaded that he be spared. Those related to the victims did not feel justice was served. It's a certainty that the lives of a criminal's family and relatives are changed for the worse after an event like this.

In addition to feeling for the family and friends of the victims, and for victims who survived the attack and have been injured at this point, I also do feel for his own family, especially if Holmes's snapping was brought on by something completely out of their control.

I would have accepted either decision they would have handed down for him. In general, I am against the death penalty, but this case was extreme. I don't know.