Thread: USA: Mentally ill convicted

USA: Mentally ill convicted Scott Panetti suffers from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. After his divorce, he dressed in military clothes and murdered his ex-wife's parents. He then changed his clothes and turned himself into the police. In spite of his acknowledged and long history of mental health problems, he was declared fit to stand trial and legally represent himself. In court, he dressed as a cowboy and often made incoherent remarks, mounting no formal legal defence. He was
sentenced to death in 1995 and remains on death row in Texas.


I was just checking AI... what do you guys think? is it ok to sent to death a mentally ill, who is supposedly not concious of his actions?

Originally Posted by Maritxu

I was just checking AI... what do you guys think? is it ok to sent to death a mentally ill, who is supposedly not concious of his actions?

I think so. I think the death penalty is simply a means of disposing of a person who poses a constant threat because they can't be reformed.

That would be my argument if that was the purpose of the death penalty, but since it's a penalty as opposed to a solution then NO. Revenge killing is wrong in any form, regardless of the persons mental capacity.
Our entire legal system is a mess, eveywere from civil suites to felony 1, further proof to me that human beings are a deformity of nature.

Originally Posted by Maritxu

USA: Mentally ill convicted Scott Panetti suffers from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. After his divorce, he dressed in military clothes and murdered his ex-wife's parents. He then changed his clothes and turned himself into the police. In spite of his acknowledged and long history of mental health problems, he was declared fit to stand trial and legally represent himself. In court, he dressed as a cowboy and often made incoherent remarks, mounting no formal legal defence. He was
sentenced to death in 1995 and remains on death row in Texas.


I was just checking AI... what do you guys think? is it ok to sent to death a mentally ill, who is supposedly not concious of his actions?

He seemed conscience enough to turn himself in, which states he knew right from wrong....

Originally Posted by Sparta

I think so. I think the death penalty is simply a means of disposing of a person who poses a constant threat because they can't be reformed.

That would be my argument if that was the purpose of the death penalty, but since it's a penalty as opposed to a solution then NO. Revenge killing is wrong in any form, regardless of the persons mental capacity.
Our entire legal system is a mess, eveywere from civil suites to felony 1, further proof to me that human beings are a deformity of nature.

A person with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder can be treated and end up being under control, becoming useful to society.

BTW, I of course oppose death penanlty in any form. In my opinion, it is revenge.

Originally Posted by Inkslinger

He seemed conscience enough to turn himself in, which states he knew right from wrong....

Someone who doesn't know right from wrong is a psychopath...
A pacient of schizophrenia knows that what he/she is doing is wrong but can't help it. He/she doesn't want to hurt anybody and is usually tormented. I assure you that he wasn't responsible of what he did.

He is a danger to anyone he comes in contact with. We can't very well have him going around killing more people because he is sick.

Originally Posted by Maritxu

USA: Mentally ill convicted Scott Panetti suffers from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. After his divorce, he dressed in military clothes and murdered his ex-wife's parents. He then changed his clothes and turned himself into the police. In spite of his acknowledged and long history of mental health problems, he was declared fit to stand trial and legally represent himself. In court, he dressed as a cowboy and often made incoherent remarks, mounting no formal legal defence. He was
sentenced to death in 1995 and remains on death row in Texas.


I was just checking AI... what do you guys think? is it ok to sent to death a mentally ill, who is supposedly not concious of his actions?

Americans are an eye for an eye kind of people. Vengance is the name of the game here. I have never seen where the death penalty prevents murder. I support the death penalty only in extreme cases. Unfortunately money talks. The Texas woman who drowned her children because "god" told me to" escaped the death penalty. THe sad news is that the death penalty seems to be given at whim.

To really see how the majority of the American public feels about the death penalty just look back at when Bundy was put to death in Florida. I cringed as I saw my fellow citizens standing outside the prison walls as he was being fried. They were cheering and partying. Some had frying pans with the words "Burn Bundi Burn" written on them. It is that attitude that turns me against the death penalty. If you read interviews of family members of murder victims who witnessed the executions of the murderer that they faught to have put to death- you to often are left with no closure and still left empty. No matter what the last words are of the condemned man or woman the family of the victim is never left with a sense of good feeling.

To me putting someone to death is allowing them to escape life and suffering. It is the easy out for them. That is why people commit suicide: To escape life. So I would never kill those that I choose to hate- I would fight to keep them alive so that I could relish the fact that they must suffer thier days out knowing what they did.....

you to often are left with no closure and still left empty.

In my opinion, it's not about closure, but logic. It's more logical to kill them then not.

Originally Posted by Feslin

In my opinion, it's not about closure, but logic. It's more logical to kill them then not.

Only if logical to you means giving expedience priority over human rights.

Originally Posted by Feslin

In my opinion, it's not about closure, but logic. It's more logical to kill them then not.

I enjoyed hearing recently of the Amish families and how they reacted to the murderers family and even attended the killer funeral-

Violence breeds violence. When we develop a soiciety that is so focused on violence and death we breed a society that commits more violence and murder. Fear is not the way to govern and manage a society.

What a better way to promote violence than to engage in it ourselves.