death penalty news August 11, 2004
USA: Rebutting the Rebuttal (On the Death Penalty) By now, many of you have read Michael John McCrae?s rebuttal to my last column on the death penalty. Typically, I wouldn?t rebut a rebuttal, but in this case, I need to make an exception. I have stated my case against the death penalty. And some of the very examples that Michael has shared with you buttress that opposition. I?ll take just a few key points: 1) In Chapters 21 and 22 of the book of Deuteronomy, the death penalty is indeed called for in cases of adultery, fornication, rape, disobedience to parents, bestiality, and perjury (more specifically, bearing false witness against someone). Blasphemy was also considered a capital offense under the old Jewish law; Jesus?s own crucifixion is testament to this. Stoning is also referenced as the method of execution. Specifically, all the men in the town are supposed to take up this grisly task, after the accused has been sentenced by the elders. Hanging is referenced too, as is the timeframe in which to remove the hangee from the tree. 2) Christians who stand for the death penalty based on Old Testament teachings, including the ?eye for an eye? injunction in Genesis, for first-degree murder and murder in commission of other felonies have not, to my satisfaction, been able to reconcile to me why they don?t support it for these other crimes. It?s like having one foot on dry land and another in the sea. We shouldn?t have it both ways. Either we use it all the way or we don?t use it at all. 3) Even if God ordained that we use the death penalty for murder, the United States has proven too many times that it is a capricious, unfit executioner. The only reason O.J. Simpson didn?t get tried for his life was because he happened to be one of the greatest running backs in pro football history. Had he been an unknown longshoreman working the Port of Los Angeles, there?s a good chance he?d be waiting to die in California?s gas chamber right now. I do think he did it, but because he had a high-powered team of private lawyers, instead of a highly-stressed, poorly-trained public defender, he?s a free man. And how about Susan Smith, the woman who drowned her two young children in a lake in Union County, South Carolina? She went on national television and claimed someone else took her babies. I thank God that the law enforcement teams in that area were smart enough to see through her, and bring her to justice instead of trying to find that elusive black man. Had any man, regardless of his color, been convicted of this crime, he?d likely be on Death Row by now. Don?t get me started on Illinois. Batting .500 would guarantee the Cubs a World Series, but that demanded having the death penalty put on the bench in that state. 4) Just because I don?t believe in the death penalty doesn?t mean I?m lenient on crime. On the contrary, it?s much easier on the men and women to kill them. When they?re dead, they don?t have to think about all the bad things they?ve done. They don?t have to live with the fact that they?ve destroyed families, marriages and communities by their actions. And despite all they?ve done, they still have the opportunity to receive God?s forgiveness. Don?t be surprised to see a few less-than-savory earthlings sporting halos in Eternity. I believe in life in prison without the possibility of parole, and I also believe in putting lifers to work, eighteen hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays. Keep them active, wear them out, and they won?t have the time or energy to cause much trouble. Believe me, North Carolina?s roads could use all the hands they can get to keep the traffic moving. 5) Now, after all of this talk about not supporting the death penalty, there is one crime that I would reluctantly support it for? treason. Of all the crimes that can be committed, treason is the only one that puts everyone, regardless of race, gender, political background or dietary requirements at risk. Treason betrays everyone. Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols were guilty of treason. And even though I feel for some of those who called for them not to be executed, including some from victims? families, these men committed the greatest single act of terror in US history and deserved to die. Yes, worse than what happened September 11, 2001, because McVeigh and Nichols once swore to protect this country and its constitution?the same oath that Michael and everyone else who enters the armed services takes when they enlist. The death penalty is one of those topics where there?s very little middle ground. I?ve planted my stake in the ground, as has Michael. We don?t agree, and we don?t have to. It won?t change how I feel about him one iota. That, I?ll share with him privately. ------------ About the author: Claxton Graham has written a number of columns on Useless Knowledge on a variety of topics. His first column, "How to Get Married on $1,000 (Or Less)", should be required reading by anyone planning to get married in the future. Email: [email protected] (source: Opinion, useless-knowledge.com)
