CAPITAL LIFE: ALTERNATIVE TO THE DEATH PENALTY

A living-death of imprisonment for life in absolute isolation without any of the privileges afforded the general prison population and no possibility of parole

As most of you know, I am a diehard supporter and proponent of the death penalty. With support for the death penalty in decline, I hereby offer an alternative that should be acceptable to my fellow hardcore proponents of the ultimate punishment. It is a special category of a life in prison sentence.

I’ve coined my proposal for a special category of life imprisonment as Capital Life.

Capital Life would be Imprisonment for life in absolute isolation without any of the privileges afforded the general prison population and no possibility of parole. No visitors, no mail, no TV or radio, no special meals for Thanksgiving or Christmas, no one-hour exercise period outside the cell.

Of course I realize Capital Life would never come to pass. Civil libertarians will oppose Capital Life with the same fervor they oppose Capital Punishment. The courts would rule that Capital Life violates the Constitution’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.

I agree that it’s cruel and unusual punishment. So what! The murders Capital Lifers committed were also cruel and unusual punishment and their victims did not have the benefit of trial by jury. And I also realize that Capital Lifers would have a high rate of suicide. So what! Good riddance of the vermin!

Absolute isolation for life without possibility of parole is the only alternative to the death penalty that I would accept. Come to think of it, a Capital Life sentence of living-death would be a far better punishment than the death penalty.