Should the state execute Ernest Lee Johnson?

Asked by ABC 17 News

564 Votes

Should the state execute Ernest Lee Johnson?

80%

Yes Yes

20%

No No

80%

Yes

A jury convicted Johnson in 1994 of the murders of three people at a Columbia convenience store. The murder weapon was a claw hammer.

A jury convicted Johnson in 1994 of the murders of three people at a Columbia convenience store. The murder weapon was a claw hammer. Show Less

5 Comments

Connie Sullivan

Enough is enough.

Donna Welborn-Dicus

This was not a passive murder (shooting), he actively beat these three victims to death with a HAMMER.

Max

This man beat the victims with a hammer, with such savagery that the initial investigation, it was thought that they had been shot in their faces with a large shotgun. He should have been put down many years ago.

Will Mason

It is time to stop wasting money on this fool. He should have been executed years ago.

N A

the death penalty is actually far more expensive than a system that utilizes life in prison

Chris Hill

Against the death penalty in general, but then there are cases like this one.

20%

No

Death penalty foes are trying to get the governor to spare Johnson after other legal efforts failed to get him off death row. They say Johnson is intellectually disabled.

Death penalty foes are trying to get the governor to spare Johnson after other legal efforts failed to get him off death row. They say Johnson is intellectually disabled. Show Less

3 Comments

N A

regardless of your stance on the death penalty, the supreme court clearly established in 2002 that it is considered "cruel and unusual punishment" to execute someone with a mental disability. Johnson repeatedly scored below the comprehension level of a 5 yr old on disability tests.

Christopher Watson

Two wrongs don't make a right, it's NOT justice, it's revenge, that is evil. Makes you no better than the Perp.

N A

in response to max de young: 1. no one was advocating this man ever be freed from prison 2. the death penalty is proven to not reduce the amount of violent crimes in a country

Max

But it will prevent another wrong, and that may save an undetermined amount of lives.

Letitia DenHartog

There is no way of knowing whether he understood what he was doing when he killed the people.

Max

I'm pretty certain the people he beat to death also failed to understand him too.

Should the governor call a special session to suspend the state gas tax?

Asked by ABC 17 News

210 Votes

Should the governor call a special session to suspend the state gas tax?

45%

Yes Yes

55%

No No

45%

Yes

1 Comment

Zaos Gonzolez

Taxes are for the suffragettes.

55%

No

1 Comment

Max

We need taxes, especially in Columbia. Columbia needs even more taxes, than all other cities. We also need a tax on purple hair dye.

Would you support a new tax to build a jail in Boone County?

Asked by ABC 17 News

252 Votes

Would you support a new tax to build a jail in Boone County?

35%

Yes Yes

65%

No No

35%

Yes

2 Comments

James Quade

We should not rely on other jails to take care of our problems. We have a responsibility to provide the proper facilities to our superhero police force

Max

That will be an average cost, to every single person of Boone county, of $197 per year, for 20 years. $3920. What a deal.

65%

No

5 Comments

Fat Guy Outdoors

This leadership needs to resign.

Max

You are using the word leadership carelessly.

Harry D

I would support a 10-year tax for a bond issue to build the new jail, not a new forever sales tax.

Max

The comment that I made indicating a total average cost, does not account for inflationary changes, which will probably more than double my $3920 estimate.

Jessica Orsini

We've more than enough incarceration in this county, state, and nation, and it's frankly not helping.

Max

The high crime problem is because the courts fail to punish the offenders hard enough to deter crime.

Davon Argo

The need for a new jail isn’t new. County leaders have known for years it needed attention. Maybe the sheriff should’ve prioritized a jail before a multi-million dollar training facility. His budget priorities is his attempt at railroading the city’s public safety staffing and infrastructure needs.

Madison Haleigh

I'd rather we put more money to schools to prevent there from being so many people in jail in the first place. If we fund our schools and the education system, there would be less people in jail. If we funded mental health services- there would be less people committing crimes

Max

The crime problem is a result of the catch and release problem. Too, many people are not afraid to commit crimes.

Harry D

Thinking like this is why the city of Columbia is short 50 police officers.

ABC 17 News

Should the state execute Ernest Lee Johnson?

80% Yes Yes

20% No No

80% Yes

20% No

Should the governor call a special session to suspend the state gas tax?

45% Yes Yes

55% No No

45% Yes

55% No

Would you support a new tax to build a jail in Boone County?

35% Yes Yes

65% No No

35% Yes

65% No

80%

Yes Yes

20%

No No

80%

Yes

20%

No

45%

Yes Yes

55%

No No

45%

Yes

55%

No

35%

Yes Yes

65%

No No

35%

Yes

65%

No