Wednesday, June 20, 2007


How They Die

According to the Department of Corrections of the People's State of Stalag California, the number three cause of death among death row inmates in the Stalag's stalags is by execution.

The number two cause of death is suicide.

The number one cause of death among death row inmates in Stalag California's stalags is......are you ready for this.......?

Old age.

There are currently 656 condemned prisoners in California's prison system, and the vast majority of them will remain there until they die of cancer, heart failure or boredom. Since the late 1970's, when five of nine decided that execution is a legal way to dispose of murderers after all, only fourteen of California's condemned have actually been executed. And this in the midst of hundreds of whiny protesters.

While I'm not actually in favor of the state imposed death penalty, for reasons to be stated below, I wonder at the unique California combination of angst, guilt and indecisiveness that allows hundreds of individuals, who have been lawfully condemned by the state's laws, to be left to rot in a cell for decades with no certain fate.

Among those convicts not on death row, life is much more exciting. California's stalags contain groups of individuals that are constantly at each other's throats. California's stalags allow homosexual rape--part of their punishment, many think. California's stalags have a thriving drug culture, in spite of (some say with the help of) the guards. Guards aid the strife by allowing ethnic groups to form gangs that are allowed to posture, threaten and occasionally fight each other.

This has to be intentional, in view of the fact that the guards have total control over the inmates and can withhold exercise yard privileges from any individual or group that is disruptive. They have total control of everything that enters or leaves the walls of the prison.

My solution? Start by holding guards and supervisors individually and personally financially responsible for injuries caused by inmates under their control. Next, courts should be directed toward sentences that cause victims to be made whole as a result of the sentence, wherever possible.

The reason why I'm opposed to the death penalty as administered by government agencies is that government agents are both incompetent and corrupt. An execution carried out in error can never be undone. In short: I don't trust government to get this or anything else right, and neither should you. The only proper death penalty is the one administered by the intended victim against his assailant, before the thug can complete his crime.

Individual rights to self defense should be fully enforced by the legal system. Individuals' rights to carry and use weapons of self defense should be affirmed and enforced. Initiation of force by either government agents or anyone else should never be tolerated, either by law enforcement or by individuals.

People should not be afraid of their governments, governments should be afraid of their people.

Warm regards,

Col. Hogan
Stalag California

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Col. I find this post really alarming. Here in Australia we are having a rise in the numbers of Jihadists in the jails and they're recruiting new people from other jail inmates. With this attitude of guards towards promoting rather than fighting corruption, all that needs to happen to put you in great danger is to, say, hit and kill a pedestrian on the road or perhaps break the new 'hate speech' laws being created all the time and then get put into jail. The possibilities could be nightmarish.

Col. Hogan said...

Aurora,
To elaborate 'pon my point, the way to give each prisoner direction and keep him too busy for islamic (or any other) proselytizing, is to have him do productive work--by way of requiring him to earn enough money, to be paid to his victim(s) to cover all damage done by his crime.

The prison agency could contract with firms requiring laborers, and the money earned could pay their keep in prison, with the remainder going to an account to be given to the convict's victim(s).

Anonymous said...

I try very hard to be against the death penalty. One of the most important things to remember is life does not mean "life" to the state correctional system. I'm thinkin' of a fellow named Kenneth McDuff down state, raped and killed two girls near Waco. This was after a bunch of whiney pinko bastards commuted his previous death sentence because it was inhumane. I think a fellow called Charles Manson out your way got that sweetheart deal as well. No matter what they say, it IS a deterrent to one person. Until life really means life I'll have to live with the guilt.

Col. Hogan said...

Well, as I say, Steve, had the two girls been armed and capable of using their weapons, maybe, just maybe they could've executed the McDuff creep and saved everybody a lot of trouble.

But I thought they were pretty good about executing murderers in Texas...

Aurora said...

Col., although you present a convincing argument against the death penalty and an area in which I waver as well, the Manson example mentioned above bothers me too. He has actually stated that he will kill again upon release which presents a huge legal dilemma to his incarceraters. However, like you, I distrust our governments and am sure they could and would use this big stick against people who are a thorn in the side of the ruling elite.

Anonymous said...

I believe that is a photo of the gallows in Tombstone Arizona. Can't prove it but I'm pretty sure it is.

The Wine Commonsewer

Anonymous said...

If one could be certain that life in prison without possibility of parole actually meant life in prison without possibility of parole one could ease away from the death penalty. Course, by today's convoluted standards and per your opening paragraph, the death penalty actually means life in prison without possibility of parole. Mostly.

Danny! Another bottle of red and two glasses. Martoonis for everyone else. Thanks.

The Wine Commonsewer

Anonymous said...

But I thought they were pretty good about executing murderers in Texas...

That's leftie mythology.

The Wine Commonsewer

Anonymous said...

Actually, they are pretty good about killin' the killers. To my knowledge only one has died of other than state assisted suicide in the 35 years I've been here. That was the one that the police here in "yellow city" were hoping would get released on his own recognizance. I'm thinkin' they were drawing straws or something. I think the count for this year is about -26.

Anonymous said...

Biggest serial killer in the world was paroled by Texas DPS ten years into his life sentence for killing his baby in what was described by the DA as the most brutal killing he'd ever witnessed. Model prisoner deemed fit for humanity so they kicked him loose to come to my town and leave women's bodies littering the landscape like so many used Mickie Dees wrappers. He's on death row now but he'll die of old age before he's ever executed. I think about that every time one of my leftie friends explains how tough Texas is on killers.

Life In Prison Is Ten Years Regards,

The Wine Commonsewer

Anonymous said...

I also wonder why he didn't get the death penalty for the systematic torture and murder of a two year old in the first place.

I personally hold the parole board in Texas responsible for the murders of those women as well.

Col. Hogan said...

I wonder why, in light of the fact that Texas has executed many murderers in recent years, they picked this particular individual 'pon whom to lavish their mercifulness. I suspect foul play.....

At very least, he should've been kept in a cell until life does him depart.

It's hard not to advocate turning him over, in shackles, to the family of the victim, that they may have their way with him in the manner of their choosing. My fear in that case, though, would be that they might forgive him. Some people are very perverse that way.