Good riddings, not that CA will ever kill this guy given the delays and bureaucracy. He's no different than a lethal terrorist.
I lived in California when those fires were started. We could see them in Orange County. Those firefighters that died, it was tragic. Many rewards were offered to help bring the arsonist to justice after it was determined that was the case.
I live in CA. Unfortuantely, Satan and his cohorts wil be playing ice hockey before this guy gets injected. CA is one f'd up state.
I fear mcbrett is correct. I am surprised the death penalty is still legal in California. When was the last time California put some one to death?
Anyone that has seen how terrible a 3rd degree burn affects a person, knows that to intentionally start fires is just plain evil. I guess I've seen waaay more than my share of burn patients. You guys are right. Good riddance (if it ever happens).
My thoughts go out to the firemen's families. Question for you lawyers out there, how was this first-degree murder?
I was wondering that same thing. I can't really imagine how that charge stuck, unless there were just a lot of really angry people involved. (And rightly angry, obviously.)
I generally oppose the death penalty but I certainly won't be losing any sleep over this guy being injected with some bad stuff.
Another Dem here who has no problems with the Death Penalty, nor its use in this case. Although, I know it will cost the taxpayers mores, I hope he has a lot of anal-rape jailtime before they kill him....
I will be the voice of oppostion here. Killing this criminal will not protect society from him better than will life imprisonment. It will not be less expensive. Texas executes far more murderers than other states yet does not have a commensurately lower murder rate-- killing criminals does not seem to function as a superior deterrent to imprisoning them. The principal value to be found in capital punishment is satisfaction of base human bloodlust and thirst for revenge. While I too draw this satisfaction, I am able to assert my reason over my emotion sufficiently to determine that killing another to make me feel better is wrong. In cases where protection of the innocent is demonstrably inferior without a death penalty, I can be persuaded otherwise. In modern-day US, however, I am opposed to capital punishment.
Good point kgp. If I were a criminal and had to choose between life in prison and the death penalty, I'd take the death penalty myself. I can think of nothing worse than serving life in prison (assuming there is no chance for parole).
Are Fire Fighters considered like Police Officers? I think in Texas if you kill a Public Safety officer/person that makes the Death Penalty relevant. Is that the same in California and for Fire Fighters?
