Sep 28, 2007
I was delighted to hear Ron Paul say at the Republican
Presidential debate on PBS that he is opposed to the Federal death
penalty. He indicated that this was one of the few positions he
changed his views about over the years - at one time, he supported
the Federal death penalty - and his reason was that DNA evidence
has shown too many innocent people found guilty.
My position has always been against death penalties on all levels.
Even before DNA evidence, it seemed to me that juries are fallible,
they are capable of error, and putting a person to death on the
basis of a wrong jury decision was one of the very worst things a
civilized society could ever do. Life in prison without parole was
a strong enough punishment, and one which allowed reversal in the
event that new evidence came to light or old evidence proved
faulty.
As on so many other issues, the libertarian distrust that Ron Paul
has of government, and his sheer logic, have led him to an
enlightened, humanitarian position. My only disagreement with Ron
Paul on this issue is that I would like to see capital punishment
outlawed on a state level, too.
Ron Paul might agree with you on that also. However, I believe he would say that no matter how he feels about it, that decision has to be left up to the states and not enforced at a federal level per the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.