60 Minutes viewers debate death row
Separated by a security window, Bill Whitaker interviewed several death row inmates in Livingston, Texas, who would be dead in just a matter of weeks.
One of those inmates was Daniel Lopez, a former crack dealer convicted of murdering a police lieutenant during a high-speed chase. After hitting the officer, Lopez continued leading police on the chase without stopping. He told Whitaker he didn't mean to run over the man -- it was an accident, but he was ready to die for his crime. Some viewers sympathized:
You'd have to have ice in your veins to not have a modicum of pity for Lopez in that #60Minutes Death Row in Livingston, Texas story.
— franklin Brown (@franklin19788) March 7, 2016
I know the inmates did horrific things, but that 60 Minutes death row story last night was downright haunting.
— Ian Pickus (@IanPickus) March 7, 2016
Others were less concerned about the inmates' feelings:
@60Minutes I would guess that his feelings are not same as the horror, fear, terror, confusion his victim feels as their death draws near.
— Jeffery Myers (@jefferymyers) March 7, 2016
@JeffFager @60Minutes death penalty is very questionable but theses men deserve no sympathy for the predicament they find themselves.
— Warden4572 (@EdB4572) March 6, 2016
Many viewers let us know that the dialogue continued after the story aired:
Me & dad watched this tonight on 60 minutes & had a really interesting conversation. If you are in favor of the death penalty watching this just might possibly change your mind.
Posted by Deborah Pait on Sunday, March 6, 2016
This made me re-think my pro death penalty stance. Take a few minutes and watch, it will make you think. https://t.co/q7YZ2k4u7Y
— USMC3rdBn (@USMC3rdBnMCo) March 8, 2016
And then there were those whose opinion on the death penalty remained unmoved:
this was an interesting interview and perspective but I do believe in the death penalty and every state should have it.
Posted by Cheryl Agen on Sunday, March 6, 2016
60 Minutes Fan-tastic Post of The Week: The most powerful thing I've seen this year is @BillWhitakerCBS's 60 minutes story about death row in Texas. So many feels.