Viti

"By my logic"? Please quote anything I have said that indicates I think anyone not executed "got away with it". You are arguing against what you think my arguments are, not against my actual arguments, that's fallacious and just bad discussion form.

Let me explain my position; I am not against the death penalty in all cases, that doesn't mean I am for it in any cases. Had he gotten the death penalty I would not be upset, nor am I upset that he didn't get it here, and I found the deal he made and the sentence he received satisfactory and beneficial in that more cases were closed because of it.

I know that. I didn't say most murderers are sociopaths, I said most serial and spree killers are sociopaths.

Are you not reading or following very carefully? I don't think I could be any more clear, yet you keep arguing points I never made. Basically, you continue to fight strawmen, with me and others.

Quit moving the goalposts. You originally asserted that autism is correlated with crime. A rare occurance is an anomoly not a correlation, and certainly not a correlation strong enough to indicate possible causation. Just because it is not unconstitutional does not mean there is a threat of it happening, it hasn't happened yet as according to your own link, autistics are easily identified as not being legally responsible for their actions.

A paranoid schizophrenic, yes. Executing him is wrong, in my opinion, but that has nothing to do with autism.

Okay, can I be any more clear here? I am only discussing your assertions regarding autism...not any other mental illness or disorder. Only autism.

Jehanne

Okay, "case closed" here.


Okay, fine. My only point is the most serial killers and/or sociopaths are not the ones being executed. It’s people who are poor and black. If you are white with a good attorney, chances are that you can “get off�?. But, some indignant defendants do get good representation:

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/arti...cid=68&did=897

Okay, fine, I think that we agree on this one!

My intent was to offer autism, a genetic defect, as an example (one of many). More to the point, mental illness and neurological defects (of which autism is classified on Axis I of the DSM) are often correlated with crime. Certainly, autism would fall into this broader category.

No, but if the State of Texas can execute paranoid schizophrenics, they can certainly execute those with autism! Glad to see that you feel that his execution was "wrong".

Okay, fine. My son has autism, has problems at school, in the neighborhood and at the swimming pools. He has problems with stealing things. I suppose my personal experience in this area is why I offered it as an example. Children with autism often need lots of intervention and services to live normal lives. As with the case of paranoid schizophrenics being executed, such could certainly occur with an autistic person.

Viti

If this is your point you haven't made it clearly. Once again, the unfair application of the death penalty is an excellent argument against it. You, however, did not use this point in your letter to Gov. Riley. Also, the defendent in this case was not poor or black or innocent.


But not all mental illnesses are the same, and can't be lumped together like that. It confuses the issue rather than clarifying it.

Personality disorders are mental illnesses (not just anti-social, all of them), yet those with PDs can control their actions and know the difference between right and wrong. Not even remotely the same situation as with an autistic, schizophrenic, or some other disorder who may not be able to understand the nature and consequences of their actions.
Sure, they can, and I think this is a good example of a persuasive argument against the death penalty. You should use these rather than vague references to science and Star Trek and suffering and the finality of death....because quite frankly, few people with the power to change the system give a shit if a murderer suffers slightly for a short period of time, or if they go to hell or are obliviated or whatever.

If you want to help affect change, you need to persuade these people who don't give a shit about murderers...how do you do that? I have given you several examples of persuasive arguments. Maybe you can recraft your letter in the OP for us to critique for the next execution you try to stop?

Of course I think it's wrong. I only support the death penalty for those who have the mental faculties to understand their actions and the consequences of them and choose to kill anyway. The poor guy in the link didn't even try to avoid the police or hide his crime, I don't think he could have had that understanding.

Autism presents very early, and so intervention is possible and a diagnosis already established when/if a crime is committed. There is usually no question as to a defendent being autistic.

Schizophrenia rarely presents until early adulthood, so your calls for early intervention are misplaced. Also, schizophrenia can be faked by a sane person, in an attempt to get an insanity plea. The situation becomes much more complex.