Capital Punishment Abolition Amendment questions and answers

[Lincoln Republican]

If capital punishment is abolished, then for crimes of murder, what is the trade off?

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Spanking.

[LastVoter]

life imprisonment

[Lincoln Republican]

life imprisonment

Thank you.

Two joke replies, one serious reply.

I am asking a serious question.  I do not expect to be answered with flippant responses.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

life imprisonment

Thank you.

Two joke replies, one serious reply.

I am asking a serious question.  I do not expect to be answered with flippant responses.

I thought the alternative punishment was rather obvious...

[TJ in Oregon]

life imprisonment

Thank you.

Two joke replies, one serious reply.

I am asking a serious question.  I do not expect to be answered with flippant responses.

I'm sorry. I deleted it.

[Lincoln Republican]

Well, since all of you would rather give flippant answers to a serious question, I can only conclude none of you know the answer.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Well, since all of you would rather give flippant answers to a serious question, I can only conclude none of you know the answer.

There's actually no single answer to your question because the court system decides penalties.  The Constitutional amendment merely revokes capital punishment as an option, which consequentially leaves life imprisonment as the most likely alternative to would-be death penalty sentences.

[Lincoln Republican]

life imprisonment

Thank you.

Two joke replies, one serious reply.

I am asking a serious question.  I do not expect to be answered with flippant responses.

I'm sorry. I deleted it.

Can't trust anyone I see.

[Lincoln Republican]

life imprisonment

Thank you.

Two joke replies, one serious reply.

I am asking a serious question.  I do not expect to be answered with flippant responses.

I thought the alternative punishment was rather obvious...

Not as obvious as one might think.

There would be a difference in prison sentences for premeditated murder as opposed to non premeditated murder for example.

In some jurisdictions life in prison is 25 years with the possibility of parole, then we get into the issue of under which conditions parole is allowed, some jurisdictions life in prison is 25 years with no possibility of parole, in some jurisdictions life in prison is a term until you die in prison.  

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

life imprisonment

Thank you.

Two joke replies, one serious reply.

I am asking a serious question.  I do not expect to be answered with flippant responses.

I thought the alternative punishment was rather obvious...

Not as obvious as one might think.

There would be a difference in prison sentences for premeditated murder as opposed to non premeditated murder for example.

In some jurisdictions life in prison is 25 years with the possibility of parole, then we get into the issue of under which conditions parole is allowed, some jurisdictions life in prison is 25 years with no possibility of parole, in some jurisdictions life in prison is a term until you die in prison.  

Yes, and those prison sentences will remain legal.  I think the only people that will be significantly affected by this amendment are prisoners on death row, whom I suspect will have their sentences changed by the courts.

[Lincoln Republican]

Thank you for casting your vote in support of this amendment, Winfield.

You're welcome.

I have no objection to the abolishment of capital punishment providing there is a reasonable trade off in place.  

That is why I asked this very serious question, only to be met with the three amigos giving very flippant answers, with one of them getting more serious later on after my comments.

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Is there even any region left with the death penalty? I voted against the amendment largely because I saw it as a waste of space.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

That's not to say spankings aren't a common fate for folks at many prisons, of course.

[Lincoln Republican]

That's not to say spankings aren't a common fate for folks at many prisons, of course.

Are you really that far out of touch with how the prison system operates?

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

That's not to say spankings aren't a common fate for folks at many prisons, of course.

Are you really that far out of touch with how the prison system operates?

You haven't seen the things that I've seen.

[TJ in Oregon]

life imprisonment

Thank you.

Two joke replies, one serious reply.

I am asking a serious question.  I do not expect to be answered with flippant responses.

I thought the alternative punishment was rather obvious...

Not as obvious as one might think.

There would be a difference in prison sentences for premeditated murder as opposed to non premeditated murder for example.

In some jurisdictions life in prison is 25 years with the possibility of parole, then we get into the issue of under which conditions parole is allowed, some jurisdictions life in prison is 25 years with no possibility of parole, in some jurisdictions life in prison is a term until you die in prison.  

This would be up to the regions to decide as it is currently. According to federal statute already in place death sentences received prior to 2004 when it was passed would be commuted to life imprisonment. The amendment does not alter this statute and any subsequent sentencing would be at the discretion of regional law.