The trial for the gunman responsible for killing 17 people in a mass school shooting in Florida is now entirely over. The gunman killed 17 people at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on Valentine’s Day 2018. In October, jurors voted 9 -3 for execution. Controversy has centered around the jury’s decision, but the jury could not unanimously agree to sentence the gunman to death. He will spend the rest of his life behind bars without the chance of parole.
This week, family members of the victims were allowed to give their impact statements before the gunman was formally sentenced on Wednesday. In the emotional courtroom, those permitted to speak held back nothing as they talked to the gunman. After waiting almost five years for justice, family members stood face to face with the killer giving a verbal thrashing like no other. Wishes for the 24-year-old gunman to burn in hell were rampant.
It is no surprise that the family members were upset with the decision that the gunman would not be executed.
While the death penalty can be a touchy topic for some, the fact is taxpayers will foot the bill for the gunman’s lifelong stay in prison. Would the death penalty have been a cheaper option for taxpayers?
According to deathpenaltyinfo.org, the death penalty is more expensive than life without parole. Longer trials and the number of appeals required before a felon is executed cause the high costs. Studies also show many prisoners sentenced to death ultimately end up serving life in prison. The actual amount comparisons vary state by state.
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