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] 132 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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[–] logos 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

[–] [email protected] 31 points 1 week ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 week ago

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

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 week ago

Santa told him he was getting an inmate to put to death in exchange for every single one of his felonies. Sorry I mean Satan told him.

Anyway he's pissed that he got coal instead.

[–] stevedice 62 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (9 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.

[–] [email protected] 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.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 1 week ago (1 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.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 week ago (1 children)

He didn't pardon the others, he commuted their sentences to life in prison. Of note, the 3 civilians left are terrorists who committed mass murder and were caught red handed. There are also 4 people on military death row who remain. One is also a mass murdering terrorist; one committed literal treason, attacking his own unit in the middle of the night overseas; one is a serial killer/rapist; and one took three trials over 4 decades to convict of a group murder.

They should probably commute his sentence too...

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[–] stevedice 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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[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 week ago (1 children)

The only thing that I can come to the conclusion is that two of the three are neo-nazis.

He could be sending a message, and that's what Trump is actually pissed about.

The Boston bomber I can't justify with that same line of thinking though.

Executions are barbaric, plus life in prison is far more cruel anyway.

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[–] [email protected] 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.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 week ago

Nothing shouts "Christian" than revenge murder.

[–] [email protected] 35 points 1 week ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 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.

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

Prison should be rehabilatative, not punitive

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[–] [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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[–] [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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[–] Chef 10 points 1 week ago (4 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.

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

Biden: Grants clemency indiscriminately for 1,500 people Public: Why did you let the Cash for Kids woman free Biden: Commutes death sentences selectively Public: Who made you judge, jury and executioner?

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

Biden: Grants clemency indiscriminately for 1,500 people indiscriminately Media: Why did you let the Cash for Kids woman free Biden: Commutes death sentences selectively Media: Who made you judge, jury and executioner?

FIFY... Real people honestly wouldn't care about any of this if the media wasn't trying to inspire outrage.

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I know of onlt one western country with death penalty: Belarus. And I'm pretty sure as soon as potato dictator dies, it will be abolished.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 week ago (3 children)

I kind of wonder if Biden is setting him up to execute Luigi and get on the wrong side of this current populist movement.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 week ago

His incompetence killed hundreds of thousands his first term. This time he was hoping for a more direct approach. Biden spoiled his murderous fun.

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