Adam Smith
(PHOTO SOURCE: http://izquotes.com/quote/267465)
Adam Smith
(PHOTO SOURCE: http://izquotes.com/quote/267465)
Column: Florida’s death penalty harms victims’ families
This past spring, each of us
wrote Florida legislative leaders, with one of us, Darlene Farah, visiting them
in their offices in Tallahassee. We urged them not to pass the death penalty
law just struck down by the Florida Supreme Court.
We knew that the death penalty
harms murder victims’ families by prolonging the legal process, and that
passing a constitutionally suspect law would only exacerbate that harm by
creating more legal uncertainty.
For us, these concerns over
Florida’s death penalty are close to our hearts. Each of us lost a loved one to
murder.
One of us is still waiting – now
more than three years after the death of her loved one – for the trial to start
because of delays related to the death penalty. So from firsthand experience,
we know that the death penalty does not help murder victims’ families. It makes
the false promise that it will provide justice, then puts families through hell
as they endure years of uncertainty and delay.
Florida’s broken death penalty
only makes things worse. It has been struck down as unconstitutional three
times, and twice just this year. The most recent ruling by the court comes as
no surprise.
Many legal experts warned
lawmakers what would happen. But they didn’t listen.
They chose to pass a bad law
that, in contrast to almost every other death penalty law in the country, does
not require a unanimous jury recommendation to sentence someone to death. Now
murder victims’ families are the ones who will suffer because of the
legislature’s short sightedness and will face potentially years of court
delays. Florida lawmakers should be embarrassed.
What we find particularly
troubling about the legislative debate was how lawmakers defended passing such
a questionable law. They told the public that the law would provide justice to
victims’ families. What justice exactly did this law provide? From our
perspective, it has caused nothing but harm.
Perhaps in some cases lawmakers
had good intentions in voting for the ill-advised law. But intentions alone
don’t cut it. The death penalty takes a toll on families – we know that too
well – and good intentions cannot justify such a destructive policy.
Frankly, we’re tired of lawmakers
and prosecutors championing the death penalty as a solution, while
misrepresenting how it functions in reality. The legal process takes years,
often decades, to come to a conclusion. And in most cases, the death sentence
ends up being overturned. So taxpayers pay for a drawn-out legal process and
victims’ families suffer through it – all for what ends up being a life without
parole sentence in many cases.
In the few cases that do end in
execution after many years of waiting, murder victims' families often still
feel empty, unhealed and unsatisfied. The execution fails to restore what was
lost, and often never delivers the closure promised.
When Florida lawmakers return to
Tallahassee next year, they will have to decide the future of the state’s death
penalty. There is no doubt that we’ll hear more rhetoric about it being justice
for victims’ families.
Such rhetoric will not persuade
us, because we have seen the death penalty’s actual effects. The Florida
Legislature’s handling of the state’s death penalty has only caused more harm
to murder victims’ families.
We are far from alone in
concluding that the death penalty is failing our state. Recent polling finds
that a majority of Floridians prefers life without parole to the death penalty.
If lawmakers are serious about
passing legislation that best serves murder victims’ families and the state as
a whole, their choice is clear: End Florida’s death penalty for good.
SueZann
Bosler’s father, Pastor Bill Bosler, was murdered. Kathy Dillon’s father,
Trooper Emerson J. Dillon, was murdered. Darlene Farah’s daughter, Shelby
Farah, was murdered. Marietta Jaeger Lane’s daughter, Susan Jaeger, was
murdered.
INTERNET SOURCE: http://www.tallahassee.com/story/opinion/2016/11/19/column-floridas-death-penalty-harms-victims-families/94085394/
First
of all, is article of opinion, doesn't speak for all family members.
The death penalty is ONLY failing our state because of the numerous, ridiculous motions, filed with regard to the appealate process that are often without merit, that these criminals are allowed to pursue.
Murder victims families suffer daily because of our LOSS! This is regardless of the delays in justice. My family HAS faced decades of waiting for the two death sentences to be carried out. Yes, we are going through hell waiting but not because there are delays or uncertainty in the system its because we suffered a LOSS.
Frankly, I am tired of bleeding hearts opposed to the death penalty getting on their soapboxes and trying to speak for everyone. There are plenty of victims families that feel like I do. I am not seeking revenge I seek justice.
An execution won't bring my sister back. What's lost can NEVER be restored.. Only JUSTICE would be served.
I pray that things change, that laws and the system are modified to protect the victims better by giving them their voice back and eliminating these extensive delays for the waiting family members for justice. I also pray that we get back to carrying out these LONG over due death sentences and start serving up some JUSTICE!
-MARIA DAVID
#JUSTICEFORCARMENGAYHEART
The death penalty is ONLY failing our state because of the numerous, ridiculous motions, filed with regard to the appealate process that are often without merit, that these criminals are allowed to pursue.
Murder victims families suffer daily because of our LOSS! This is regardless of the delays in justice. My family HAS faced decades of waiting for the two death sentences to be carried out. Yes, we are going through hell waiting but not because there are delays or uncertainty in the system its because we suffered a LOSS.
Frankly, I am tired of bleeding hearts opposed to the death penalty getting on their soapboxes and trying to speak for everyone. There are plenty of victims families that feel like I do. I am not seeking revenge I seek justice.
An execution won't bring my sister back. What's lost can NEVER be restored.. Only JUSTICE would be served.
I pray that things change, that laws and the system are modified to protect the victims better by giving them their voice back and eliminating these extensive delays for the waiting family members for justice. I also pray that we get back to carrying out these LONG over due death sentences and start serving up some JUSTICE!
-MARIA DAVID
#JUSTICEFORCARMENGAYHEART
“While we
understand these 55 families, who are located across the country, have suffered
greatly and are entitled to an opinion, these groups do not speak for the vast
majority of victim family members we come in contact with who are in favor of
the death penalty,” the statement said. “In appropriate cases, a death-penalty
notice is filed. A jury then determines if death is the appropriate sentence
and the court decides whether a death sentence is imposed. As always, we will
continue to follow the law and seek a death sentence in appropriate cases.”
http://victimsfamiliesforthedeathpenalty.blogspot.com.au/2016/10/congratulations-to-duval-county-state.html
http://victimsfamiliesforthedeathpenalty.blogspot.com.au/2016/10/congratulations-to-duval-county-state.html
The Four
of you DO NOT SPEAK for the vast majority of the victims. Rather than end the
DP, fix the ACLU. Executions can be speed up just see the DC Sniper etc…. http://victimsfamiliesforthedeathpenalty.blogspot.com.au/2015/10/twelve-speedy-executions.html
And
speaking of LWOP, we know you will want to abolish LWOP next….
Hear from
Murder Victims Families who are for the death penalty:
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