I don’t believe that the death penalty should be legal in the United States, but probably for different reasons than many. It has nothing to do with the sanctity of life, morals, religion, empathy or compassion. The criminal justice system, and the fate of anyone put at the mercy of it, is always going to fall victim to the worst and best of the human psyche. Within any group of 12 people randomly picked out of the population, you will find some morally and intellectually sound individuals who are perfectly capable of deciding the fate of another citizen of their country accused of a crime. But, in that same group, you are going to have so much bias, jealousy, anger, resentment, bigotry and just plain low intelligence that they have no business deciding someone’s fate. I honestly think that someone with Attention Deficit Disorder should never be allowed on a jury. I think I have symptoms of it, and don’t think I’m qualified. (That’s not just a bullshit line to get out of playing Pictionary at a couples party, btw.)
If I knew, beyond any doubt, with a confession, that a person was guilty of murder, I would not, for a second, hesitate to pull the trigger on an execution. The world is better without the pond scum. But…We are flawed, therefore, the system is flawed. For the State to end someone’s life, it needs 100 percent certainty that the party is guilty. Without that, it’s just a lynch mob with fancy, European drugs to inject into someone in place of a hanging. The Death Penaly is, absolutely, unjust. Unjust. If a few idiots had their way, a member of the West Memphis 3 would have been executed a long time ago. (He was released a few weeks ago because he killed no one, after nearly 2 decades on death row)
The Death Penalty is a flawed idea. That Is That. Did Troy Davis commit that crime? It’s looking like No. But he will probably die at his government’s hand because of a glitch in the system. And to have the State end his life is a taste of pure evil that I don’t think should be part of the American palate. We are not Iran, friends. And I’m really proud that we aren’t like them. The cheers for executions at the CNN GOP debate the other night made me wonder about….well….what exactly is it that people in my own country believe in anymore. Is it justice and freedom? Justice that fits into my whacked out beliefs and freedom that doesn’t contradict my political ideology? I’ll be proud to be an American every night of the week until an innocent man is executed by his gov’t because they need to clear the docket. And Shame fills the room. (Take a hit; it’s the only legal high left, killer.)
