Do you believe in the death penalty? I am not fully sure. There are compelling cases on both sides.
The "pro" side would argue that their must be punishment that would deter criminals from committing such heinous crimes. This side would point to the Old Testiment in the bible with God ordering the deaths of several for breaking the law.
The "con" side would argue that Jesus asks us to turn the other cheek. We should not be violent to others, no matter the crime.
While I think I tend to lean to the pro side, I do have a hard time thinking of someone being hung, electricuted, or leathaly injected. I have seen the movie the Green Mile, and that is as close as I have ever come to seeing someone executed. I understand and support the rational thought behind the death penalty, but have a hard time thinking too long on the topic.What do you think?
12 comments:
Good points Jonmower and Jonmower's alter ego. I think prison would be enough to deter me (if I were contemplating criminal activity), but not all people, especially those who are the type of people put to death.
We (Oklahoma) are preparing to execute a man who entered a fast food restaurant, moved the five employees into the freezer, and shot them each, execution-style. Then he robbed the store.
These were mostly kids, high school and college age.
I can see having mercy on a stupid kid who makes a mistake, and kills someone in a fight or something. But it takes a certain kind of sociopath to line five people up, and shoot them one at a time.
The argument that some make, that the death penalty is not that much of a deterrent, is an argument for the death penalty. If knowing you could be executed doesn't stop you, you probably are too far gone to rehabilitate.
Execute him.
I used to be opposed to the death penalty because to me it seemed like playing God, you get to decide who lives and who dies...but then again, if the person is being executed because they are charged for murder, then they did the same thing. I'm still a little torn, it seems like if you sentence someone to death then you are limiting God by not allowing that person a chance to repent (although the process usually takes years and that's a good enough chance for me). It's still something I'm sure about. Tough question...
some people considered Jeffrey Dahmer too far gone, but he died a Christian. I agree it's a hard call and I have trouble supporting it (although I used to be all for it), but I do think the "too far gone" argument isn't very strong imo.
JasonK: You make a good case. I would be for the punishment of those who commit such awful crimes. Capital is very final, and as has been pointed out, some that are convicted are innocent and that scares me.
I guess what I am saying is if we could be perfect in our legal system I'd feel better :)
gah. you make posts like these just to get comments. im commenting but not on the subject I should be commenting on. thanks.
I just wanted to post a comment so you would know that I am still reading your blog, but I just don't have an opinion on this matter. Well, maybe I do, but I'm not confident enough about it to debate the matter. Plus I don't really think it's important. Anyway, so just know that I'm still out here reading.
:-)
Thanks Lerra: The next post will be a little less heavy, this is just something that I have been thinking about since the recent execution.
Kenny,
Glad to find your blog. It’s been a while…I think I’m as old now as you were the last time I saw you!
As far as the death penalty goes, I certainly think it is biblical. Of course it was permitted under the Law of Moses, when there were several offenses that warranted death.
But hundreds of years prior to that when God made His covenant with Noah after the flood, He said in Genesis 9.6, “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man.”
I also don’t think that the death penalty contradicts the idea of forgiveness; simply put, just because someone is forgiven of something does not mean that they do not suffer consequences for it. And on a practical note, if our judicial and penal systems were based on a policy of forgiveness, then no one would ever be punished for anything.
None of what I have said makes it an easy decision. Because life is precious, and because man was created in the image of God, it is tragic anytime a life is taken.
The death penalty is a consequence of killing someone. Christians are called to forgive but you still must pay the price for your crime.
You killed someone, intentionally, and the consequence is that your life is taken. Yes that family may forgive you but that forgiveness doesn't erase what you did.
How about if you commit adultery and your spouse divorces you and remarries and moves on with their life. That spouse may forgive you but still not want to be with you again because of what you did. Same with the death penalty. I HOPE I could forgive someone for killing my family but it doesn't take away what they did. And I may not want them to die but the law of the land dictates that they should die.
You could get into other implications of being involed in the politics and government as a Chrisitian that supports the killing of people and how that affects ones morals but that is another discussion.
Does Saddam deserve to die. Yes.
My problem with the world condeming the hanging of Saddam and saying that it wasn't a fair trial and it should be done is that NO ONE, NOT ONE COUNTRY said anything when the Italians killed all of Mussolini's family and then strung his body up by a gaff hook in the square for all to see. Prae tell me what trial he got?
Luke: Glad to hear from you. Very good points.
Jon: Have you heard much about the trial of Saddame? I hadn't heard much opposition to his hanging and would be surprised if people could really defend him.
THIS Book changed my mind about The Death Penalty. Here is something I wrote about it: Who And Where Is Dennis Fritz, You say after reading John Grisham's Wonderful Book "The Innocent man", Grisham's First non-fiction book. The Other Innocent Man hardly mentioned in "The Innocent Man" has his own compelling and fascinating story to tell in "Journey Toward Justice". John Grisham endorsed Dennis Fritz's Book on the Front Cover. Dennis Fritz wrote his Book Published by Seven Locks Press, to bring awareness about False Convictions, and The Death Penalty. "Journey Toward Justice" is a testimony to the Triumph of the Human Spirit and is a Stunning and Shocking Memoir. Dennis Fritz was wrongfully convicted of murder after a swift trail. The only thing that saved him from the Death Penalty was a lone vote from a juror. "The Innocent Man" by John Grisham is all about Ronnie Williamson, Dennis Fritz's was his co-defendant. Ronnie Williamson was sentenced to the Death Penalty. Both were exonerated after spending 12 years in prison. Both Freed by a simple DNA test, The real killer was one of the Prosecution's Key Witness. John Grisham's "The Innocent Man" tells half the story. Dennis Fritz's Story needs to be heard. Read about how he wrote hundreds of letters and appellate briefs in his own defense and immersed himself in an intense study of law. He was a school teacher and a ordinary man from Ada Oklahoma, whose wife was brutally murdered in 1975. On May 8, 1987 while raising his young daughter alone, he was put under arrest and on his way to jail on charges of rape and murder. Since then, it has been a long hard road filled with twist and turns. Dennis Fritz is now on his "Journey Toward Justice". He never blamed the Lord and soley relied on his faith in God to make it through. He waited for God's time and never gave up.
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