>Do you understand WHY Illinois has abandoned capital punishment? Did you read the article?
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>Yes, I read it. And in cases where there is some question as to guilt, even after a conviction, I'm fine with life in jail. If the person is later proven not guilty (which rarely happens, but I acknowledge it does occur), you can release the person, you can make restitution, etc.
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>But where there's zero question as to guilt (e.g. the case in Florida with the mother and BF beating the hell out of a 3 year old), I say strap them in the chair, shave their heads, attach the electrodes, and let them ride the lightning.

298 men and women were sentenced to death in Illinois in the past 25 years. Of those, 18 have been exonerated — a rate of 6%.

So are you trying to tell me that of those 18 that didn't do the crime that there was some question as to their guilt at the time they were sentenced to death? Obviously a jury or judge thought that there was "zero question" as to their guilt - and needless to say they were wrong. ...and I don't think a rate of 6% (that we KNOW of) is what I would consider "rarely". Furthermore a rate of .00001% when you're killing the guy isn't good enough.