comment: >
  
  executed by the government*
  ^(~~in an official, public manner~~)
context: i have no real moral objections to the death penalty, just pragmatic ones
  it's very expensive
  if the person is guilty of something heinous enough to warrant it then it seems like life in a cage would be a worse punishment
  but mostly the moment we found out we executed even one innocent person we should have stopped all of it (nevermind the almost 200 exonerations since the early 1970s) >
  
  These are my feelings as well. I'm not going to cry over this particular murderer/rapist, but as an institution, it's inefficient and kills innocent people. >
  
  Yeah, I would let the state execute 1 innocent person and 200 murderers, rapists or terrorists than spend time, resources and personnel on those 201. >
  
  And if you were the one innocent in question? >
  
  My boy, I'd be a willing sacrifice. I'd take that deal. >
  
  No you wouldn't. This is absolute horseshit. >
  
  Have you ever seen Inglorious Basterds? In the car cinema scene in the end of the movie, did you ask yourself if there was a single innocent person in that room? If there was, would you stop the plan of blowing up the German high command? Yeah, I thought so. >
  
  That's a movie. What argument are you even making? Movies aren't reality. >
  
  What I'm saying is that the cost of one innocent life is precious, yes. But it's not 200 bad guys precious. >
  
  Even if we’ve already captured the bad guys? You’re willing to sacrifice yourself just so that we can feel justified in executing a bunch of people that we already have in cages? That makes sense to you? >
  
  She raped, tortured, and murdered her ex girlfriend.
  If anyone deserves to be executed, it is her >
  
  100%, don't let identity politics divert from what this criminal did to his victim. Awful awful person. >
  
  it’s sad how far i had to scroll to find out why she is getting executed. cuase i knew damn well it wasn’t because she’s trans >
  
  Which wouldn't make sense because she received her sentence before transitioning. That didn't happen until she was an inmate. >
  
  That’s a win for trans equity right there. >
  
  r/technicallythetruth >
  
  Retribution to the victim and the family. World will be a better place without you Amber McLaughlin >
  
  ...yay? I dunno to say if this is bad or good. >
  
  She doesn't deserve the death penalty. No one does. We need a path for redemption and rehabilitation. If she had done this in Norway for example she would have been released after 21 years. And then if at that point she is deemed not fit for release then the sentence could be extended indefinitely. That's what civilized nations do.
  Not to mention it wasn't even a jury that decided this sentence. One single person, a judge, is the person who is giving her the death penalty. The jury couldn't decide on the issue.
  Her being transgender doesn't play into this at all but I'm sure it generates clicks for the culture war. Predatory news tactics makes me sick. >
  
  For certain things yes not for murder >
  
  Even for murder yes. 21 years is an intensely large period of time. And it can be extended to life if they are unfit for release back into society. Death penalty is barbaric. Its only purpose is in revenge which holds no place in civilized society. >
  
  So does the murder victim also get to go back to society? I strongly disagree with you. >
  
  We're philosophically opposed, there's not much room for debate here unfortunately. >
  
  There sure isn’t. Enjoy your evening and happy New Years to you. >
  
  The only thing I have to say is death penalty brings a deadline with it. The infamous Ted Bundy openly admitted to several other crimes even giving explicit details and locations right before his execution. I don't think all those families would have gotten closure without that info from him. >
  
  Before transitioning, McLaughlin was in a relationship with girlfriend Beverly Guenther. McLaughlin would show up at the suburban St. Louis office where the 45-year-old Guenther worked, sometimes hiding inside the building, according to court records. Guenther obtained a restraining order, and police officers occasionally escorted her to her car after work.
  Guenther's neighbors called police the night she was killed, on Nov. 20, 2003, after she failed to return home. Officers went to the office building, where they found a broken knife handle near her car and a trail of blood. A day later, McLaughlin led police to a location near the Mississippi River in St. Louis, where Guenther's body had been dumped. It was later determined that Guenther had been raped and stabbed to death in St. Louis County.
  The murder was well thought out and who gives a shit if he decided to transition to a woman. Doesn't have anything to do with the action taken against the victim. Death penalty should stay in place. >
  
  nobody is debating THIS death sentence. They're condemning the institution that murders 1 in 8 of it's participants. >
  
  Who cares about their sex? How does that in anyway have anything to do with her being a murderer?  Sorry, but this is an open and shut case. >
  
  Lots of people are executed in the US. Why does this person being trans make the person special?
  And did this person become trans before or after prison? >
  
  Because it’s the first person >
  
  I'm against the death penalty anyways but definitely against it in this particular case, not because she's trans, but simply because it wasn't a punishment decided during her jury trial. It was instead decided by judge order. Only two states in the US allow the judge to simply order the death penalty in a case where the jury is deadlocked on their sentencing. >
  
  I feel like this is the real important info from the article. Surprised there aren't more comments talking about it. >
  
  Sounds like some crazy bullshit..Jury was deadlocked but the judge gave her the death penalty? A fucked up law only allowed in 2 states.. 2 states too many. If a jury of peers don’t decide it, then the judge shouldn’t be able to play God. >
  
  No, the judge gave a man the death penalty for terrible stalking rape and murder.
  The trans stuff all took place in prison and it's not related in any way to the penalty or death sentence. >
  
  I honestly think McLaughlin doesn't deserve to be saved, considering they raped and killed their ex gf. Fuck this person. I would hold this opinion for any rapists and killers regardless of gender. Although I do understand that the death penalty can be Extremely atrociously problematic if an innocent person has been deemed guilty of a crime and put to death, and I am aware that this unfortunately has happened in the past. But yeah people who take and destroy lives shouldn't get to live the rest of their life. In my humble and, yes, possibly wrong opinion. I don't know man. This kinda shit is fucked up all around. >
  
  Judges should not be the ones to choose whether or not someone gets the death penalty. Also, let’s stop executing people. It’s not practical and it’s immoral. >
  
  Right like executing a murderer just makes everyone involved… literal murderers lol >
  
  Must be a slow news day >
  
  Are we supposed to feel bad for this worthless criminal because they are trans? WTF.. >
  
  Ok. Her gender shouldn't matter. >
  
  What a gross article this was.  Talking about this person transitioning rather than his victim.  Sometimes you have to set your agenda aside for a minute. >
  
  Exacrly. How is the transition stuff relevant to anything? >
  
  She doesn’t deserve clemency based solely on the fact she is trans. If she faced a harsher sentence (death penalty) than someone who isn’t trans would have gotten, then maybe. But she also killed someone, pretty violently, and trans people can be shitty people too. You don’t get a pass because of your gender identity. >
  
  The victim was murder and raped and the trans prison convicted BEFORE ANY TRANS STUFF.
  This is an inmate who transitioned in prison, so how the fuck does this matter for the carrying out the sentence. >
  
  Equality under the law... I support jt. >
  
  I applaud your allyship. I hope are you there when we need constantly battle for this kind of support for equality in a lot of other cases? Like Jon protection, equal housing, access to education? These are just some basic rights any human should have. >
  
  The death penalty is barbaric, we get it wrong a lot, doesn’t solve anything. >
  
  And on top of that, most people don’t know that its way more costly than a life sentence. >
  
  I thought that was common knowledge. It seems to be a pretty common objection to the death penalty. >
  
  I thought so too but I constantly hear “why should the tax payer have to pay for their room and board for life?!?? Just give them the death penalty!” Then when I explain that life is cheaper they often time don’t believe me.
  Granted these are very ignorant people im talking about. >
  
  You willfully intentionally take a life? Yours is forfeit. >
  
  The poor judges family are going to be devastated. >
  
  "Murderer/Stalker/Rapist that is pretending to be a woman for sympathy will be executed" >
  
  I have no sympathy for this criminal, whatever her gender. But the death penalty is morally and ethically wrong, improperly and inequitably applied, and should be abolished nationwide. >
  
  Congrats? On your accomplishment? >
  
  Unsure why this is news. Person about to be executed. Move along >
  
  Why is this even making news.  Who cares what the sex is.