Killer of 'American Sniper' Kyle jailed for life

Really? The state that had a "Chris Kyle Day" sentenced his possibly insane killer to death? Whoa!

To be clear, prosecutors sought a life sentence and did not pursue the death penalty. He will not have a full life in a Texas prison.

Besides, what is wrong with a Chris Kyle day? Although he could be a little nutty at times (watching friends die will do it to you if you are not already nutty), the guy saved a lot of people.

You've gotta appreciate the irony here: one psychopath murders another confessed, unrepentant mass murderer; one gets life in prison, the other is celebrated as a hero.

Mass murderer? Kyle was doing his job.

Oh, okay? He had a choice to pull the trigger, right? But if he didn't, more of his fellow Americans would have died. Kyle isn't the one to blame for loss of life in the Iraq conflict.

So Kyle goes to help a guy precisely for PTSD problems, is clear on a cell call to his wife that this guy does not appear well, and is subsequently gunned down.

American veterans, this is the quality of health care you can expect, particularly in Texas - incarceration is cheaper.

I'm pretty sick of people calling Chris Kyle a mass murderer. He didn't go to the local shopping mall picking off families. His country was attacked on 9/11, he joined the military to protect his countrymen.

Kyle didn't choose to go to Iraq, Bush's Admin chose Iraq. Kyle didn't fire the first shot that started the war. He fired shots to save his countrymen from being killed. I can't believe he joined the Seals to kill. I do believe he went to protect, and to fire when he had to, not fire to add to a body count. Yeah, he lied about some things, so what? Doesn't make him wicked.

He did save a lot of people and he did work to help wounded veterans and he did donate millions from the book sales to the families in need. Those are not the qualities of a cold mass murderer.

There is a thick bold line between kill and murder, murder is what is illegal and immoral to kill, there are many justifiable ethical reasons to kill if need be and in some cases it may not even be considered a sin. When killing for self defense or killing as a soldier in part of a war protecting your home land.

Hi, Joeintokyo,

You're right, every conspiracy theorist about the Iraq war having little or nothing to do with 9/11 is probably right. I'm simply saying he, Chris Kyle, went to Iraq because those in charge at the time created a case for Iraq and they told him to go to Iraq. So, Kyle went because he was told that's who killed Americans at the time. He believed because his government (lied) told him the Iraqis were responsible.

Then while there, he saw Iraqis killing his fellow servicemen, so he fired back.

"...took the lives of at least 160 living souls, many of whom were family members." Everyone is a family member, that goes without saying. No one just appeared or were created in a lab. The killed Iraqis were family members, the killed Americans were family members. You can't be insinuating all the killed Iraqis were innocent because they had families. I mean, Saddam and his followers did kill thousands themselves so I'm sure some of those who actually were guilty of mass murder by orders of Saddam did attack the US and were rightfully killed by Kyle or those like him.

Kyle was sent to keep his fellow servicemen safe, that's what he believed he was doing. 160 lives were killed over a span of time, not in an afternoon just opening fire.

Funny how the guilty verdict came after the film came out...

@Thunderbird

You said it. Can't see how this bloke could possibly have received a fair trial, given the media circus over the film.

Neither man was/is a murderer. One was a soldier doing his job, the other clearly insane...,

i am still amazed by people making comments about Iraq who did not go, would not go and would never defend the country anyway.

i am equally amazed by people who label soldiers murderers when they just do their job; for their job entails taking life.

as for this poor soul- i am hopeful that upon appeal that a better sentence with treatment is found- however as someone pointed out- he will not face death and he will not be on the streets roaming free.

"he will not face death and he will not be on the streets roaming free."

Yes, Routh, who is 27, has been sentenced to life imprisonment without possibility of parole. This means the U.S. taxpayers will pay for his food, housing,clothing, medical care, etc., for probably the next five decades or more.

there are many justifiable ethical reasons to kill if need be and in some cases it may not even be considered a sin. When killing for self defense True, but...

or killing as a soldier in part of a war protecting your home land. Iraq certainly isn't anywhere near your home land, and never posed a threat to the US.

"Iraq certainly isn't anywhere near your homeland, and never posed a threat to the US"

You could say Nazi Germany or North Korea never posed a threat to the U.S. but thanks to U.S. soldiers the Nazis didn't take over all of Europe and the North Koreans didn't take over all of Korea.

Kyle was a soldier sent to Iraq and his death was terrible. He was in Iraq because of the lies of unspeakable people. The sickos who get off reading about his skills with a firearm and wow at how many people he killed in this filthy bloodbath are also unspeakable. A horrible business all round.

what is wrong with a Chris Kyle day?

He isn't a hero, he killed tons of people during an aggressive invasion war. The fact he wasn't the one"to start" that war doesn't make what he did less horrible.

Really? The state that had a "Chris Kyle Day" sentenced his possibly insane killer to death? Whoa!

No, not really. He was sentenced to life in prison.

Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. Iraq posed absolutely no threat to "Kyle's country." Yet, he went on a mission as an agent of state terrorism and took the lives of at least 160 living souls, many of whom were family members. (probably often in areas other folks call their shopping areas). That's mass murder. I call 'em like I see 'em.

Your first sentence was 100% correct, but you started to err after that. As an enemy of Kuwait, a United States' ally, Iraq continued to pose a threat to the point where the no-fly zones were still in existence from Desert Storm. Kyle was a sniper. Snipers don't take random potshots at passers-by. They target specific individuals for specific reasons because once they've taken a shot, they have to relocate. You don't give away your position for no reason. "Taking the lives of living souls" is what happens in a war. Kyle is no different than any other soldier on the battlefield in this respect. As far as his targets being "family members", so what? Hitler was a "family member" but that didn't stop him from being the most reviled human being of the 20th century. Just because somebody has a family doesn't mean it's impossible for them to be combatants. You can call it "mass murder" all you want, but that just means you've written your own personal dictionary that the majority of the world does not use.

I mean, Saddam and his followers did kill thousands themselves so I'm sure some of those who actually were guilty of mass murder by orders of Saddam did attack the US and were rightfully killed by Kyle or those like him.

Such a twisted and completely absurd logic. I don't even.

You've gotta appreciate the irony here: one psychopath murders another confessed, unrepentant mass murderer; one gets life in prison, the other is celebrated as a hero.

Mass murderer? Sometimes, you just shrug your soldiers and just have to shake your head when misguided people like this say outrageous statements like this.

Kyle was a soldier sent to Iraq and his death was terrible. He was in Iraq because of the lies of unspeakable people.

You're right, It's just like with Benghazi 4 people had to die because of an unspeakable coverup.

The sickos who get off reading about his skills with a firearm and wow at how many people he killed in this filthy bloodbath are also unspeakable. A horrible business all round.

That's your personal opinion and you are entitled to it. I think differently, the man is a hero.

'Kyle was a soldier sent to Iraq and his death was terrible. He was in Iraq because of the lies of unspeakable people.

You're right, It's just like with Benghazi 4 people had to die because of an unspeakable coverup.'

Ah, Benghazi. Yes, I'd also like to know what happened there and if there is something to it, I'd like to see Obama answer for it. I'd also like to see Bush answer for that infinitely more catastrophic episode which left over 100,000 dead with thousands maimed based on a pack of lies. I'm sure you would agree that would be fair. Then again, I suppose you'll just slip back into your cultured journalistic register of 'not gonna happen'.

'That's your personal opinion and you are entitled to it. I think differently, the man is a hero.'

That wasn't the point I was making. I was saying those who get off on big guns and wow about the number of people killed by Kyle in a filthy, illegal war are sickos. That is my opinion.

Joeintokyo : Amazing how Gandhi managed to purge his nation of the greatest imperialist nation to date without a single shot

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partition_of_India

The Partition of India was the partition of the British Indian Empire that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan (it later split into the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the People's Republic of Bangladesh) and the Union of India (later Republic of India) on 15 August 1947. ... In the riots which preceded the partition in the Punjab region, between 200,000 to 500,000 people were killed in the retributive genocide. UNHCR estimates 14 million Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims were displaced during the partition; it was the largest mass migration in human history.

Does anyone know why Eddie Ray Routh didn't receive the death penalty?

Does anyone know why Eddie Ray Routh didn't receive the death penalty?

Because the prosecution didn't seek it.

Does anyone know why Eddie Ray Routh didn't receive the death penalty?

No 'aggravated murder', because: First time offense? Only two victims? No robbery or sexual assault committed during the crime?

Don't know why he didn't get committed for mental incompetency, instead of prison (as a 'schizophrenic in and out of hospitals').

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States

Its application is limited by the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution to aggravated murders committed by mentally competent adults.

Amazing how Gandhi managed to purge his nation of the greatest imperialist nation to date without a single shot, but Kyle and his derange logic, mass murdered his way to contributing to an even greater debacle known as ISIS, today.

Different time, different circumstances, different groups of people, different ideology.

Ah, Benghazi. Yes, I'd also like to know what happened there and if there is something to it, I'd like to see Obama answer for it. I'd also like to see Bush answer for that infinitely more catastrophic episode which left over 100,000 dead with thousands maimed based on a pack of lies.

Do you also want answers from the extreme Sunni and Shia factions that have murdered and butchered more people than the entire war over the past 14 years. The slaughter of Christians, Jews and other religious minorities? How about the stoning of women, the slaughter of innocent children that only committed the crime of watching soccer, honor killings, killings of Apostates. Where is your outrage about that? Does that make you mad or do you just want to vent your anger selectively and make it partisan ONLY towards Bush and the GOP?

I'm sure you would agree that would be fair. Then again, I suppose you'll just slip back into your cultured journalistic register of 'not gonna happen'.

No, I just hate people that want to rehash the same old crap again and again, particularly when the last president and admin. was proven to be not only innocent of any lame alleged charges, but the sheer fact, libs are chasing a hopeless dream of something that will never happen, so instead of dreaming of a scenario that won't EVER come to your fruition, focus on the now, the present, the current. It makes libs look better and more rational.

That wasn't the point I was making. I was saying those who get off on big guns and wow about the number of people killed by Kyle in a filthy, illegal war are sickos. That is my opinion.

Ok, but in my opinion, I am very happy that Kyle could kill as many Jihadists as he could. Kudos to the man.

I just hate people that want to rehash the same old crap again and again, particularly when the last president and admin. was proven to be not only innocent of any lame alleged charges

There was never a day in court, so the above comment is factually incorrect.

the sheer fact, libs are chasing a hopeless dream of something that will never happen

No, our goal is to never let the world forget how Bush screwed up royally. As there has never been a trial, we need to keep pointing it out, so that the Republicans can not whitewash history and try to pretend that Bush wasn't the worst president ever. The whole Iraq invasion was likely the biggest screw up the US has ever made in its history. So our dream is not only realistic, it is working. Every time we bring up how Bush screwed up, we keep it alive, so that people cannot forget.

'Ah, Benghazi. Yes, I'd also like to know what happened there and if there is something to it, I'd like to see Obama answer for it. I'd also like to see Bush answer for that infinitely more catastrophic episode which left over 100,000 dead with thousands maimed based on a pack of lies.

Do you also want answers from the extreme Sunni and Shia factions that have murdered and butchered more people than the entire war over the past 14 years. The slaughter of Christians, Jews and other religious minorities? How about the stoning of women, the slaughter of innocent children that only committed the crime of watching soccer, honor killings, killings of Apostates. Where is your outrage about that? Does that make you mad or do you just want to vent your anger selectively and make it partisan ONLY towards Bush and the GOP?'

Bass, I said if there is a cover up over Benghazi, Obama should answer for it as Bush should answer for the Iraq disgrace. How the hell is that being partisan? Your knee-jerk rant is far more revealing. My position is consistent - all politicians should be held accountable for illegal acts. I regard murderous religious fanatics as lower than animals - at around the same level those prepared to send thousands to their deaths based on lies.

I've never heard the expression 'come to your fruition' before. Maybe the more common 'come to fruition' is more suitable here - not just mine. Bush and Blair would be on trial for all tin-pot dictators and scumbags to see that even the US president and UK Prime minister are not above international law. A great message to send out to the many who excuse or attempt to justify their disgusting deeds with comparisons to the outrage committed in the name of the supposed good guys. If you listen to many murderous fanatics speak, they weasel their way out by invoking the outrages of western leaders to attempt to prove the hypocrisy of attacking their own outrages. This is a line parroted by many and convincing many with dangerous consequences.

There was never a day in court, so the above comment is factually incorrect.

Exactly, but not in the court of public opinion. Give it a rest. Because the only thing you libs are doing is just talking to wall on something that will never, ever happen.

No, our goal is to never let the world forget how Bush screwed up royally.

So then that means, the world will double on NOT forgetting how badly Obama screwed up the country, not to mention our relationships with our allies, but wants to befriend dictators. Even Hilary, can't be this bad if she were president, it's just impossible.

2 more years until FREEDOM!

As there has never been a trial, we need to keep pointing it out, so that the Republicans can not whitewash history and try to pretend that Bush wasn't the worst president ever.

Exactly, all the more reason to let the Dems know, they can't do the same. So far, we are on the same page.

The whole Iraq invasion was likely the biggest screw up the US has ever made in its history.

Don't forget Obama's war in Afghanistan and don't forget Benghazi. Don't pick and choose selective partisan politics. Please stay consistent.

So our dream is not only realistic, it is working.

How is it working. Last photo I saw of Bush, he looked good on the ranch enjoying his life as he rightfully deserves.

Every time we bring up how Bush screwed up, we keep it alive, so that people cannot forget.

Right and thank God for FOX to do the same to keep Obama in check. Both political sides should be held accountable and the world needs to be reminded. See, we both can come to some sort of an agreement.

Bass, I said if there is a cover up over Benghazi, Obama should answer for it as Bush should answer for the Iraq disgrace. How the hell is that being partisan? Your knee-jerk rant is far more revealing.

Actually, it's not. It's a realistic fact that libs are so obsessed with Bush syndrome and forget when Obama became president the Dems and Holder launched an investigation of Bush and his cabinet and came up with nothing, no charges, no evidence of wrongdoing, nothing. No one tried to stonewall or hide anything and yet, the findings are not good enough for libs, so when it comes to Benghazi the libs want conservatives to forget about it, 4 people died, so what, it's not as important as the number of Iraqis that died and forget about the atrocities that the Iraqis committed against one another, the Sunni and Shia conflict, that's all not as important. Let's gloss conveniently over that. Let's just get Bush. Again, give it a rest, ain't gonna happen. If Holder himself couldn't trump up charges, then you have your answer right there.

My position is consistent - all politicians should be held accountable for illegal acts.

I completely agree, in that, then you should be equally as critical towards the president and his admin. If what you say is true.

I regard murderous religious fanatics as lower than animals - at around the same level those prepared to send thousands to their deaths based on lies.

And yet, you do not codemn or speak out as much about the actual perpetrators of the natives that commit these crimes without any indignitation or impunity who might I add, have so in greater numbers.

I've never heard the expression 'come to your fruition' before. Maybe the more common 'come to fruition' is more suitable here - not just mine. Bush and Blair would be on trial for all tin-pot dictators and scumbags to see that even the US president and UK Prime minister are not above international law.

But they won't. So if Holder would reopen the case and find proof that there is any wrongdoing, so be it, but he didn't and Holder is very thorough, that's for sure and even he couldn't find anything on Bush. So we can keep talking about it until we are purple in the face, but thankfully Bush has nothing or needs to worry about anything.

A great message to send out to the many who excuse or attempt to justify their disgusting deeds with comparisons to the outrage committed in the name of the supposed good guys.

Yes, that goes for both sides of the political aisle.

If you listen to many murderous fanatics speak, they weasel their way out by invoking the outrages of western leaders to attempt to prove the hypocrisy of attacking their own outrages. This is a line parroted by many and convincing many with dangerous consequences

For those who have been "proven" to be as such, you are correct.

Give it a rest.

Never.

Because the only thing you libs are doing is just talking to wall on something that will never, ever happen.

What are you talking about? Our goal is to never let it be forgotten how bad Bush screwed up. It's already happening, so your premise that it will never happen is incorrect.

the world will double on NOT forgetting how badly Obama screwed up the country, not to mention our relationships with our allies, but wants to befriend dictators.

Ignoring the fact that attitudes towards the states around the world are very good (http://www.pewglobal.org/database/indicator/1/), Obama has done great for the country, and we will work for that to never be forgotten.

The whole Iraq invasion was likely the biggest screw up the US has ever made in its history.

Don't forget Obama's war in Afghanistan and don't forget Benghazi. Don't pick and choose selective partisan politics. Please stay consistent.

The war in Afghanistan is Bush's. He started it. Obama had to pick it up. And Benghazi has been admitted to be nothing by a bipartisan committee including Republicans. So there is nothing to remember, much less forget.

Last photo I saw of Bush, he looked good on the ranch enjoying his life as he rightfully deserves.

But his reputation as the worst president ever, will live forever. That's the most important thing.

Never.

Then don't. Makes no difference to Bush (thankfully)

What are you talking about? Our goal is to never let it be forgotten how bad Bush screwed up. It's already happening, so your premise that it will never happen is incorrect.

No, it depends on who you talk to, but with all of the man's faults, with him, you never had to question if he loved his country or our allies. So you can stream to the top of the mountains. Bush has been exonerated and hopefully can live out his days comfortably as he should.

The war in Afghanistan is Bush's. He started it. Obama had to pick it up.

And more people died on his watch, his war, Obama took it over, he's effectively responsible for it, regardless of how it was started or should we keep blaming Ross Perot for getting Clinton elected or should we keep talking everyday about Monica and Bill or Carter's disastrous foreign policy had kept our embassy staff hostages for 444 days. Yeah, you keep talking while the world moves on.

And Benghazi has been admitted to be nothing by a bipartisan committee including Republicans. So there is nothing to remember, much less forget.

So then since Holder couldn't bring up charges on Bush, and believe me, Holder tried, but there wasn't enough evidence or facts to show that Bush did anything wrong.

So I guess,cue both should move on right?

But his reputation as the worst president ever, will live forever. That's the most important thing.

In the liberal stratosphere of make believe reality, but from a historic POV. Carter still takes the cake and if Obama keeps going, he'll easily pass Carter.

Amazing how Gandhi managed to purge his nation of the greatest imperialist nation to date without a single shot

You say that like you think there's something wrong with imperialist nations - and I doubt Hyderabad or Goa would agree with you either.

"Routh had bounced in and out of psychiatric care following deeply disturbing incidents during which he threatened to shoot himself and others several times before his fateful meeting with Kyle. He was on a cocktail of nine prescription drugs including powerful anti-psychotics and he had been officially diagnosed as suffering from PTSD"

reference: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2967259/American-Sniper-s-Marine-killer-worshiped-Chris-Kyle-action-hero-definitely-did-PTSD-horrors-Iraq-Haiti-says-comrade-break-silence-Eddie-Ray-Routh.html

Clearly Eddie Ray Routh was mentally ill and had no business being around guns. "Routh’s apparently deteriorating mental state – and even according to Kyle, who called Routh “nuts” on the day of the fatal shooting — "

reference: http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/02/25/for-chris-kyles-killer-life-in-prison-may-make-prison-an-asylum/

More troubling, with Routh's clearly disturbed mental state, why would Kyle take a man he called "nuts" to a firing range? Routh should have been in a mental ward. Having served four years as Marine, Routh certainly deserved better.

Now, Routh's sentence is little more than a death sentence any way it's sliced. A Texas prison is no place for a guy who kills 'Sniper'.

Expect Routh will fall down in the shower an expire of his injuries within two weeks. Just another tragedy of George W. Bush's Wars of Profit. Mission Accomplished, again and again and again.

More importantly, this should be another wake up call for the American Veteran. The GOP-Tea has consistently attacked funding for American Vets and the tragedy of Routh's mental illness and the slaughter of two men is the result in microcosm.

"In February of 2014, Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont proposed a bill that would have allocated $21 billion that would have improved access to healthcare, education, and other services for US veterans. Republicans . . . blocked (and) killed that bill."

reference: http://suzannecgordon.com/lack-of-funding-is-the-real-va-scandal/#sthash.KMbF1u4k.dpuf

The Routh/Kyle tragedy is an American Failure, but more specifically, a failure that needn't have happened. 100% Predictable and 100% Preventable. But the GOP-Tea blocked killed a bill for Veterans just as they are now holding Americans hostage to their shut down of the Homeland Security Department. That's another tragedy waiting in the wings from the GOP-Tea. Americans can put their fears of ISIS on the back burner, they have to face the GOP-Tea first.