I've only just found your sight, and don't have much time to devote to reading it, but in case I get the chance to come back and check up:

How is it a libertarian anarchist from Austin, Texas can on the one hand believe so strongly that the government has no right to take money, in the form of taxes, from its citizens, while simultaneously believing that the government has the right to take a citizen's life?

I believe the point would stand on its own, but to also factor in the uncertainty of any justice system which (fortunately) doesn't keep DNA samples of all its citizens as to eliminate all doubt of guilt or innocence just makes the idea even more preposterous to me. As I see it, the core of most libertarians' belief systems is some mishmash of an assumed right to property and wealth as well as an inherent distrust of the government to do most things right.

Unlike most other punishments, it turns out that this whole death thing is pretty irreversible, so that's one place I'd like for any government to leave open the possibility that it might just be wrong.

Matt, the reason that seems so contradictory is because...it is!

In that first post I wrote:

"I support the death penalty as punishment for some crimes, provided extra processes are inserted into the legal system to add redundancy and to elevate the burden of proof on the prosecution. The method of death doesn't matter as much to me; lethal injection, electrocution, hanging, and firing squad are all fine with me."

I wrote that in 2003, before I adopted my anarchist libertarian position I have today and before I changed the HTML on this site to reflect that. I didn't go back and edit the post because I still fundamentally agree that a proper reaction to some crimes is to have a death penalty.

However, back then, I thought the government was an appropriate agency to impose that penalty. Now, given that I don't want a government at all, I also don't want the government in the realm of justice because I view it as fundamentally unjust in both theory and operation.

I don't have the time to elaborate further, but if anyone wants me to do so, just leave a comment.

I am sure this comment will bring about an arguement BUT... Plain and simple: The death penalty is wrong. It is murder. NO ONE has the right to take another's life. For instance - a dear dear friend of mine was recently murdered by the State of California. Thus, making Governor Arnold a cold blooded killer (of an innocent man).
These people sitting on death row have issues. They had issues from day one! They come from abuse, homelessness, more abuse, etc. People make mistakes.
I have lost loved ones to murder. Murdering people to show that mudering is wrong is stupid.
These people on death row deserve letters, friends, and support. How would you feel if you were locked up in a cell that is no bigger than your bathroom for 22-23 hours a day? Family blows you off, spouse leaves you, kids hate you...That would be a horrible feeling.

Anyway, that is my 2 cents.

I got to this page cause I was looking up info on Troy Kell (hes on death row in Utah). He has issues. Did you see how he was raised? He was raised like an animal. He was bound to snap sometime.

Jen
AGAINTS THE DEATH PENALTY

I love Troy Kell. He did no wrong. He killed a nigger. So what? We're better off without them. I have spent hours of research on this man. I am currently working on a project about him. If he is put to death I will go right behind him. His story has put a a huge impact on my life, and he doesnt deserve to die. No one does. (Except for the niggers)

Andrew Ryan embraces the collective fallacy of the racist variety. As such, his comments are not worth listening to.

First of all I'd like to make a comment on what Andrew Ryan said about "nigger" which means an ignorant person NOT A BLACK PERSON. Second of all I don't know a whole lot about Troy Kell but I believe that nobody deserves to get murdered, but it does happen. And for those people out there murdering people and trying to make people believe that they killed a person because they are MENTELLY RETARTED or CRAZY that is just a lame ass excuse to try to get off easy. And in all honesty people that wanna take it in to their on hands and take a life, they need to be punished accordingly. And if they are big enough to commit such a crime as murder and they know in their heart that what they did was wrong and I truely believe that over half of the murders do they need to just face up, and not try to coward out of what they did by try to give bull shit testimonys and try to say that they are "INNOCENT". I think that the problem with people these days don't think before they act but that is no reason to try to prove that they didn't do what they know was wrong. All together I think that Try Kell should not get the death penalty only because only GOD is the one that has the right to take and give life. But I do believe that is remaining years of his life belongs behind bars under max. sercurity, so that what happened to the immate NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. Because for all the murders out there not only killed their victims they killed a piece of the victims family and friends.

I just wanted to know if any of you women who are writing Troy or have writen to him or even receive calls from him can tell me if there are any distinct ways to know if it is really Kell writing you, because I "heard" that he gives a good amount of his letters to "friends" in prison because he can't or won't write alot of people back, often having these friends pose as him. What does he sound like on the phone? The reason I ask this question is because my best friend wrote to him about 3 months ago and did receive a letter from him or at least allegedly...I am concerned for her as I don't want to see her hurt because she is kind of naive. Can anyone tell me how he signs his letters, if he uses any "catch phrases" or closes his letters any way inparticular. Also, can anyone tell me what he has said to you in letters because I want my friend to know because I think she is stupid enough to think she is "the one". Please post with comments.

Troy is a sneeking coward he took the life of my best freind, because a little whore felt that she wasn't getting the attention she thought she deserved. Let Shaw rot and kill kell,KILL KELL.

after watching the program of mr kell i think this man deserves to die i have never seen a more sickening crime i felt sick watching the murder of that man i didnt beleave in t6he death penalty untill i whatched that program