With Rick Perry’s run for presidency it’s no surprise that his policies as governor of Texas would be attacked and scrutinized. The latest topic has been the issue of capital punishment in Texas and Rick Perry smashing the record for the most executions all time, a record which was previously held by our all beloved George W. Bush. Hell, in Texas I believe that’s a cause for celebration! We even lead the nation in the most executions of all time! When we say “Don’t mess with Texas” we damn well mean it.
One would reckon that with Texas having the highest execution rate in the nation, we would have the lowest murder rate as well, but one would reckon wrong! According to Death Penalty Info, the murder rate in Texas actually increased from 2002 to 2003. It turns out that capital punishment isn’t much of a deterrent, but we will continue to “kill em all, and let God sort it out”! Not only is capital punishment not a deterrent it is actually 4 times more expensive to execute a person than to give them life. If that’s not enough for you, how about the fact that the death penalty is condemned by the European Union and the World Court.
It seems that while everyone else in the world is becoming more morally aware and civilized, we are applauding the fact that we execute more prisoners than any other state. I’m willing to bet we probably execute more prisoners than some other countries that still use capital punishment. Capital punishment is an outdated unmoral punishment that we need to rise above from and join the rest of civilized society. Rick Perry is not the one to blame for the continued excessive use of capital punishment. It is the majority of Texans who vote for the Judges who have the toughest record on crime. These elected officials are only following the will of the population who voted them in. We as a people need to open our hearts to rehabilitation instead of condemnation. As Nobel Peace Prize winner, Desmond Tutu quoted, "To take a life when a life has been lost is revenge, not justice."
In his article titled Ultimate Justice, my colleague, Travis makes his argument that, “Capital punishment is an outdated unmoral punishment that we need to rise above from and join the rest of civilized society,” in rebuttal to Governor Rick Perry’s stance on the death penalty. Although Travis admits that, ”Rick Perry is not the one to blame for the continued excessive use of capital punishment,” that, ”It is the majority of Texans who vote for the Judges,” that are responsible, Travis mocks fellow Texans by implying that many Texans stance is, “kill em all, and let God sort it out,” and ends his article with a quote from Desmond Tutu, which is obvious he’s in agreement with, that “To take a life when a life has been lost is revenge, not justice.”
ReplyDeleteAllow me, a native born Texan and born again Christian, for a moment to indulge those of you who say “Justice should be left up to God.” Any Theologian and well read Bible Scholar will tell you that He (God) instituted the death penalty. He gave it as law to His people, the Israelites. God uses government to enact justice and there is nothing wrong with that. And if you back the “innocent people will be killed” argument then what do you say about people like James Ealey, who was convicted of murdering four members of the Parker family back in 1982, then released because the ruling was overturned and then charged and convicted of murdering restaurant manager Mary Hutchinson in 2006? He killed again because he never receive punishment for his initial crime!
Look, I understand the arguments against the death penalty, but I do not think it is inconsistent to be pro-life and yet pro-death penalty, as Governor Perry. Because life is so precious when an innocent life is taken shouldn’t there be retribution? Shouldn’t there be a price to pay for murder? Yes. Yes, God can forgive a murderer but we as a society are not God. Do we just forgive those who break the law? Do we forgive the thieves and let them go free? Do we forgive the rapists and let them go too? “Well yes sir, you raped and beat that woman but we are not God. We can’t judge you. Go and sin no more.” What nonsense!!!!! Do we forgive murderers and demand no JUST punishment for what they have taken?
Duly note that I am not a huge Rick Perry fan, however when people try to argue against his stance on the death penalty spouting such things as “God will judge” that’s where you lose me because we are not God. We as a society must have JUST punishment for wrongdoing. Where is the justice for someone like James Ealey who murdered a pregnant woman, her two teen daughters and her 3 year old grandson? And then found his way back into society after years in prison and murdered another innocent woman? He took 6 lives and yet gets to keep his own? That’s justice? I think not! Travis, although I can respect your opinion, I can also advise that you “rethink” your stance.
In Travis' original editorial called "Ultimate Justice", he basically says that Texas should stop sentencing people to death which "is an outdated unmoral punishment that we need to rise above from and join the rest of civilized society."
ReplyDelete"We even lead the nation in the most executions of all time!" "Hell, in Texas I believe that's a cause for celebration!" Well, no. People would be celebrating if there were less murderers and attempted murders. It's sort of ironic that you say hell because that's where most criminals go.
"Capital punishment... is actually 4 times more expensive to execute a person than to give them life."
That's a problem. We need to find cheaper ways to kill them. I suggest a bullet to the head or maybe two just in case. Seriously, there are so many restrictions about how to kill them because we try to reduce their pain and discomfort. Oh the irony! Did their victims have the same luxury? I don't think so.
"... while everyone else in the world is becoming more morally aware and civilized, we are applauding the fact that we execute more prisoners than any other state."
People get to go to court. We don't shoot them or hang them from a tree anymore like people used to do in the olden days. People who commit crimes deserve a punishment and ultimately nothing we, humans, decide is enough for a horrendous criminal.
Yes, only God can sort things out.
"Capital punishment is an outdated unmoral punishment that we need to rise above from and join the rest of civilized society."
Wait a second, immoral? There are rapists and murderers. And the people that believe they should be sentenced to death are, in your book, immoral? Wow.
I think that rapists get off with too short of a sentence and murderers well, they already did something immoral and uncivilized. Didn't they?
"We as a people need to open our hearts to rehabilitation instead of condemnation."
That part made me laugh a bit. Honestly, the only person who believes that everyone can still be saved and that there is hope for them to change is Jesus. I'm not Jesus. I don't think that everyone changes. Some psychopaths will be psychopaths. Other criminals could change and feel guilty, but it's a little too late.
Texas Chain Saw Massacre ring a bell?
Shall we open our hearts to them? No, they'll just eat them!
'As Nobel Peace Prize winner, Desmond Tutu quoted, "To take a life when a life has been lost is revenge, not justice." '
Murderers take live, and we should just let them sit in jail and continue to live while their victims don't.
Come on! If someone murdered you, would you say Kum By Yah and wish them a long life where they are fed, clothed, housed, and breathing.
Everyone is going to die. The only question is when.
People who do heinous crimes deserve to get their lives shortened.
In the past, people were lucky if they lived until what we now call middle age.
Ultimate justice is something that only God can deliver.
We only shorten the time span that people have on this earth.
Let’s explain how a lethal injection works.
ReplyDeleteFirst, you are put into unconsciousness by sodium thiopental then Pavulon tells your heart to stop beating, and then Potassium Chloride makes sure it doesn’t beat again. While the injection it’s self isn’t very expensive it’s all the appeals that make it rather costly. A lot of people would argue that we can't be sure if they're truely innocent (FYI only two prisoners in 2010-2011 have been exonerated from death row), we spend more money on the entire execution process than we would imprisoning the person for the rest of their natural life and how Texas must be glad to execute the prisoners, such beliefs can be found in the article "Ultimate Justice" by Travis, the author of the blog "Texas: A Nation Within A Nation."
Well everyone, These are the faces of Texas Death Row.
Ramon Hernandez
And two friends kidnapped, robbed, raped and then murdered a 37-year old woman before burring her in a shallow grave. One of them bought the shovel used to bury her while she was still alive, being raped.
Ramon Hernandez
Richard Cobb
Richard Cobband a partner kidnapped three victims, a man and two women. Once they had murdered the man, they raped the two women before shooting them and leaving their bodies in a field.
Brittany Holberg
Robbed the home of an 80 year old man before beating him with a hammer and stabbing him with various knives and forks about 60 times and then she shoved a lamp pole 5 inches down his throat.
Brittany Holberg
Ronald Prible
Ronald Prible
Shot and killed a man and woman in their Houston home before setting fire to the residence...while their three children were inside. Don't worry, they weren't burned alive, they just suffocated from smoke inhalation.
Kelly Allen
Raped a two year old little girl that was in his care before beating her to death by punching her in the chest and stomach repeatedly.
Kelly Allen
I really have done my best to avoid these topics all year, the super hot button issues all semester (because who hasn't made their minds on the death penalty or abortion?), but as our semester draws to a close, I am compelled to share me feelings on this especially when the Author of this article claims that while the rest of the world is becoming more "morally away and civilized" we as Texans are celebrating loss of life and that we "kill em all and let God sort it out." I would say that we already did the sorting, which is why a jury of their peers convicted them of their crimes, and it's why they're sitting in their cells waiting to die. I celebrate no loss of life, under any circumstance, but I will say that I can exhale in relief knowing that one less awful person is in the world that my niece will grow up in, and some where a family in Texas has closure.
We do not publicly execute. Our prisoners are not hung, gassed, or electrocuted to death. I think that the way there life is ended is more than fair considering the way they ended the lives of their victims.
I'm sorry that I can not"open my heart to rehabilitation instead of condemnation." They have forfeited their lives and are beyond mortal redemption.