this post was submitted on 24 Dec 2024
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Summary

President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates to life without parole, sparing all but three convicted of high-profile mass killings.

Biden framed the decision as a moral stance against federal executions, citing his legal background and belief in the dignity of human life.

Donald Trump criticized the move as senseless, vowing to reinstate the death penalty.

Reactions were mixed: some victims’ families condemned Biden, while others supported his decision. Human rights groups praised it as a significant step against capital punishment.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 days ago

imagine running on "the deficit" and then whining that you can't spend millions to let the state kill someone.

[–] [email protected] 134 points 1 week ago (18 children)

When you hear the acts of each, you won’t believe that he did this. Makes no sense. Relatives and friends are further devastated. They can’t believe this is happening.

That's because like Trump, those people don't understand justice, they only understand revenge. Trump thinks literally everyone is a horrendous person who wants to wantonly murder others just like him. Control over whether someone lives or dies is the ultimate control, and the one Trump craves most. It's super clear why this is so upsetting to him, he got his favorite type of domination and control taken away. His toys.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 week ago

Remember that Trump said that "Relatives and friends are further devastated. They can’t believe this is happening." Without source, and can be dismissed as something he made up on the spot. The families of the victims are a mixture of reactions some are in support some opposed and some can't be found for comment.

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[–] [email protected] 83 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Is trump cryingon social media about how he doesn't get to kill 37 people on Christmas eve ?

Nice move by sleepy joe i guess

[–] Zachariah 30 points 1 week ago (2 children)
[–] CharlesDarwin 12 points 1 week ago

Well, Kamala had that laugh, so....

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[–] [email protected] 62 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (10 children)

While I'm overall glad about this, leaving 3 unpardoned inmates really corrupts the "moral stance against federal executions" justification and makes it seem like he is in favor of capital punishment but only for people he thinks deserve it. It also makes it seem like he believes it's his decision to decide who gets to live and that rubs me the wrong way.

[–] Nightwingdragon 39 points 1 week ago (21 children)

Even the most die-hard anti-death-penalty believer has their limits. It may take Hitler-level atrocities to get there, or maybe even worse. But everyone has their own line in the sand where even they will say "If there was ever a case in favor of the death penalty, this is that case." That line is in a completely different place for everybody.

It also makes it seem like he believes it’s his decision to decide who gets to live and that rubs me the wrong way.

Since the President has final pardon power, he actually does get to decide who gets to live. It's a power granted to him by the Constitution.

[–] greedytacothief 23 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Yep I'm anti-death penalty, the 3 that didn't get pardoned should probably just live the rest of their lives in prison. But I'm not going to shed any tears for them.

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 week ago (12 children)

I understand that and, if you ask me, those 3 guys are pos. My problem is that he said he did it to take a moral stance against death penalty. You can't do that and go "except for these 3 cases".

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[–] danc4498 59 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Good conservative Christian’s LOVE killing!

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Nothing says "pro life" like whining about not being able to murder someone.

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[–] CharlesDarwin 35 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Pretty clear donvict knows his qon "pro-life" fanbase is bloodthirsty, and they demand sacrifices.

[–] Frozengyro 11 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Yea, this group largely believes an execution sends them to hell sooner to suffer more. As someone who isn't religious, I'd rather they waste away in jail, as that is much more a punishment than a quick death.

[–] g0d0fm15ch13f 26 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Prison should be rehabilatative, not punitive

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[–] Rapidcreek 26 points 1 week ago

Neither Orwell nor Bradbury nor Vonnegut could have come up with anything so bizarre and upside down as to have a complete criminal and felon pretend that he cares about law and order.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Wonder what trump is doing with dylan roof?

Execute? But its his kkk compatriot.

Not execute? But then he looks weak for walking back on his bloodthirsty executioner statements.

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[–] AidsKitty 19 points 1 week ago (17 children)

It's odd when you think about it. Republicans don't want abortion but whole heartedly support executions. Democrats are against executions but whole heartedly support abortion. Welcome to America.

[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 week ago

It's more odd to me that the ones who believe in original sin and forgiveness for everything are the ones anti-abortion and pro-execution.

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 week ago (6 children)

I don't think the government should have the power to kill people as a punishment, with that said I'm also not upset that the sentences of these three weren't commuted.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (8 children)

One of the three he didn't pardon was Dylann Roof. I thought they fried his ass already, had no idea he was still alive.

I did wonder why the three that weren't spared were left to die.. and I still kinda do.

Also I'm kinda surprised Trump didn't pardon Dylann Roof.

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 week ago (3 children)

The State should not be allowed to punish someone by killing them. Capital punishment is merely revenge with the government acting as the hitman. There’s no way to prevent an innocent person from being accidentally murdered. And those 40 people are proof that it doesn’t act as an effective deterrent.

It’s a barbaric practice and we need to end it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 days ago (1 children)

99% of the time yes but the Hitler fact. Assad, Putin, etc. Actual large scale crimes against humanity

[–] coriza 1 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

There is an adage that says "Hard cases make bad law". In the end is a case of, what is preferred, let a guilt person go unpunished or punish an innocent person? I personally believe that it is never ok to punish an innocent person. And I think it is not even that extreme when we are talking about capital punishment or be "tough on crime", it is more like, do um prefer to under punish some guilt people or over punish others including some innocents?

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