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Majority of LFDA support NH Death Penalty (934 responses; 4/12/15)
By Rob Levey
While allowable under NH law, the last execution in the state was carried out in 1939. Michael Addison, convicted in 2008 of murdering a Manchester police officer, is the only inmate currently on NH's death row. Despite its lack of use, 81% of Live Free or Die Alliance (LFDA) Facebook members who answered the question, “Do you support NH’s death penalty,” expressed support for the death penalty, while 19% said they did not. 12% of all respondents, though, did not directly answer the question and chose to discuss the subject more broadly. In total, the LFDA received specific comments from 427 individuals supported by 507 concurrences for a total of 934 citizen responses.
Out of respondents who expressed support for the NH death penalty, many cited the need to streamline the legal system that surrounds the death penalty. Remarked one respondent, “Tighten the conditions of the sentence so that the automatic appeals aren't needed and get it done quickly. No sense in warehousing people who will never be back on the street again anyway.” Others noted the death penalty could serve as an effective deterrent for others, while some appealed to the logic that the punishment should fit the crime. “There's way too much violent crime in NH the last few years and the law should be used to clear the worst members of society off the face of the earth,” noted one gentleman.
For those who said they do not support the death penalty, many cited ethical concerns, including one woman who noted, “I don't want the state to have this kind of power. The more I justify ‘an eye for an eye’ logic, the less righteous I feel about taking a man's life regardless.” Others suggested the death penalty represents an easy way out for criminals. “A life in prison is far worse than death,” added one respondent.
For those who did not provide a direct “yes or “no” answer to the question, many debated the costs associated with housing prisoners for life as opposed to enacting the death penalty. Others suggested the government has no placing in deciding punishment. One woman remarked, “I feel that if you are found guilty and there is no shadow of doubt then you should be handed over to the victim’s family for them to decide your fate.”
The nonprofit, nonpartisan LFDA takes no position on this or any issue, as this report is presented as a summary of citizen testimony. As New Hampshire’s Virtual Town Hall, the LFDA community, numbering more than 62,000, provides objective information on state issues, promotes the civil exchange of opinions, and communicates views to elected officials. To learn more about this issue or the LFDA, visit www.lfda.org.
Rob Levey is an Editor of the Live Free or Die Alliance.
Live Free or Die Alliance
www.livefreeordiealliance.org
Source: http://townhall.livefreeordiealliance.org/xn/detail/4091641:BlogPost:72132
