Prop. 34

Proposition 34 purpose is to end the Death Penalty Initiative. This means, there will no longer be a sentence to death, but instead there will be an “imprisonment for life with no possible parole”. Making first-degree murder punishable only by life in prison. This meaning, the 725 offenders who are already on Death Row, would be sentence to life imprisonment with no possible parole. (KQED).

What Proposition 34 offers positively is about $100 millions saved in trials. These savings would then be given to law enforcement to help with investigations on homicides and sex crimes as well. Over time, that saving can grow to be at least $130 million dollars. With positive though, comes negative. Many law enforcements believe that this gives criminals the right to feel they can escape justice. Giving them the idea that, if they commit a murder, for example, they’ll only face imprisonment.

In my opinion, I feel that if you commit a crime, you have to deal with the consequence and punishments that come along with that crime. Taking away the death penalty, is basically saying, “Hey you killed someone and it’s okay”. The government can’t possibly let criminals get the easy way out, and that exactly what would happen if Prop. 34 passed. Punishment is what criminals like that deserve. They deserve to feel the pain they made one or two or even ten other people feel. The families of these people that have suffered. For these reasons, I would vote NO on Prop. 34. You commit a crime, you pay for it. In the same way the people you hurt paid for it.