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We could save much more if we got rid of the attorneys.

What kind of study is that? We could also save millions if we stopped investigating homicides, or stopped looking into kidnappings. Why dont we just get rid of the police dept, that would save us a ton.

This is a ridiculous study put forward by opponents of the death penalty. Instead of spending millions on 'humane' ways to punish people, who showed no such compassion to their victims, maybe we could bring back public hangings. I don't think a few hangman's noose's would break our state budget.

"Cook says the rarity of death sentences in North Carolina means the penalty doesn't deter criminals"

I'd would have to agree with that statement. The death sentence should be applied more often and should be much more swift. That would deter criminals more. The cost comes from the constant and unending appeals and trials these criminals have. There needs to be more limits put on appeals. Lawyers love the unending trials and appeals process. It just means more money to them. If you were to take away their incentive for more appeals and more trials, lawyers would drop these cases faster than Tiger Wood's wife drop Tiger. To lawyers it is all about the money. It has nothing to do with justice.

I think an all volunteer firing squad would be a cheaper way to save money.
I also, think it is workable.

Imagine one of these killers standing over you with a switchblade and start to slowing slice across your eyes and nose, cutting the eyeballs and bridge. Imaging going blind as the killer slowly cuts your nipples off as you scream in pain, crying to God to let you die. But you don't. You live to see this killer live a life in prison at your expense. Now we are complaining about not killing these bastards. The guy with the gun has the right idea. Lets not forget the criminals are there because they did something unforgivable.

As usual the simpletons ignore all the facts and blather their knee jerk right wing hate all over the place. Yes, it's the appeals process that costs the taxpayer the millions. However, the appeals process is a necessary evil as we are dealing with the life of a human being. Yes, people more than likely have been killed for this to have been an issue. But does killing someone else who may or may not be guilty going to bring them back? No. Look at the errors committed by the W-S police force in sending several innocent people to prison for capital crimes to prove my point. The day our justice systems begins to convict criminals with 100% accuracy is the day that capital punishment should be considered. That day will never come. Death is too final of an answer to use it in a system that is not perfect.

To add to my above post, how many of you that were espousing such murderous speech claim to be Christians? More than likely everyone one of you. You need to go back and read your bible.

Capital punishment has never been about deterrence. It is about punishment, always.

There are some crimes in which execution is the safest way to punish someone who is just to dangerous to ever allow among other people. Unfortunately, the application of the death penalty in this country is marred by racial injustice, overzealous cops and prosecutors eager to close a case, and just plain mistaken identity. We've had too many exonerations in recent years.

We shouldn't stop applying the death penalty simply to save money. We SHOULD reform how we apply it to ensure we seek it against the truly guilty, and the worst of the worst, regardless of race or social background. Until we can ensure the system is fair, we should suspend executions (not get rid of capital punishment, not the same thing).

I don't know why everyone always assumes the death penalty should be used to deter criminals. What about to assure they'll never be able to escape from prison & kill again? There are convicted murderers who slip through the cracks & are released before they should be released! Let's zap them & keep the world safe for the rest of us.

People claiming that capital punishment is about deterrence need to read papers published after 1975 and change their tune. Every study on the subject of the effect of severity of punishment on crime rates has shown that criminals act with no regard to consequences. More severe consequences do not cause criminals to reconsider committing the crime. They only cause them to reconsider how to commit the crime without being caught. Sociological and psychological studies show that even if a swift death sentence were guaranteed in the event of murder conviction, it would have no effect on murder rates. Criminals seldom consider what will happen when they're caught, only how to avoid capture.