Giant If

A contentious proposition

So Warren Jeffs is apparently in a coma. After receiving a life sentence for sexually assaulting underage FLDS followers, he has refused to eat or drink in prison and now, three weeks into that sentence, is in “critical but stable” condition.

I reiterate my belief that criminals sentenced to life in prison should be able to opt for death instead. The article says that it is unknown why Jeffs stopped eating, but that he has fasted to the point of needing medical intervention in prison before.

Let the man die, if he wants to. Do whatever is necessary to bring him out of the coma, and ask him if he’s trying to kill himself and would prefer death to spending the rest of his life in prison. If he says yes, then put him out of his misery.

6 responses to “A contentious proposition”

  1. Jalyth Avatar
    Jalyth

    Makes sense to me, but I doubt the super religious would admit to trying to die.

    Reply
  2. Gretchen Avatar
    Gretchen

    That's a good point, Jalyth. "Fasting" to death might be the only way Jeffs finds ending his life to be possible, both physically and religiously. And if that's the case….I say we should let him.

    Reply
  3. Dr X Avatar
    Dr X

    I'd be curious to hear how death penalty enthusiasts might react to your proposal. How many might regard the voluntary death option as an unacceptable avoidance of punishment? I could imagine that some would reject it on that basis, which would be interesting considering that the death penalty is regarded as the most severe form of punishment.

    So it would go something like this: we won't let you die if you want to die, but if you want to live we insist on killing you.

    Just doing a little thought experimentation.

    Reply
  4. Applejuicefool Avatar
    Applejuicefool

    Sounds like somebody's reading my mind…or my posts on that other forum.

    -AJF

    Reply
  5. Robert the Skeptic Avatar
    Robert the Skeptic

    Maybe he realized how awful it was going to be to end up as someone's else's bitch in prison.

    Reply
  6. Cristina Hunt Avatar
    Cristina Hunt

    "People" like Jeff Warren do NOT deserve the choice.

    Kill him and be done with him. "People" like him are just as worse, if not more so, than terrorists.

    If he ants to fast and go into a coma, fine, just don't give him life support.

    Reply

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