Death Penalty

Death Penalty

Recently, the outgoing governor of Illinois made a brave and wonderful decision. Rather than allow 167 persons to be executed under a flawed and unsure system, he commuted all their sentences to life without parole.

I favor the death penalty, but only when we can be absolutely sure beyond any possibility of doubt that the accused is guilty and deserving of death.

103rd Innocent Inmate on Death Row Exonerated!

After spending 16 years on death row, Florida death row inmate Rudolph Holton walked out of prison a free man on January 24th, 2003. Holton is the 23rd death row inmate exonerated from Florida, and the fourth exoneration in that state in just the last two years.

Florida is not the only culprit in this deadly game. Innocent inmates have been released from death rows in twenty-five states in just the last three decades. Certainly, Governor Jeb Bush needs to take a closer look at Florida's system. But all states with the death penalty need to face facts. The death penalty is not working and is plagued by serious errors.

To find out more about Rudolph Holton's release, visit

www.MoratoriumCampaign.org

How can we ever be sure.

One thing that bothers me, we may be giving the death penalty for the wrong reasons.

We should not give out the death penalty because ...

We want some kind of closure.

We think the crime was really horrible

We are angry and want to punish, the eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth concept.

Matthew 5:38-44

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'

But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.

If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. "

"You have heard that it was said, `Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you..."

Here Jesus is clearly telling us that compassion should rule the day.

We should give out the death penalty because ...

The person poses an extended and exceptional threat to society

We are afraid that the person will continue to commit capital crimes if the opportunity arises.

The death penalty should only be used when the convicted criminal is clearly guilty and clearly represents an ongoing threat to society. Put a man to death only when this is the only reasonable way to protect society!

I would like to point out that the death penalty is not really a penalty at all. When a person dies there are two possibilities;

The person has accepted Jesus as the Christ, confessed his or her sins, and accepted the Grace of our Lord. He or she will therefore enter the Kingdom of Heaven and have eternal life. Pain and suffering end.

The person has not accepted Jesus as the Christ or accepted the Grace of our Lord. In which case that individual will simply cease to exist. Again the end of pain and suffering.

In either case, pain and suffering for the criminal ends, not much of a penalty. Actually, the period on death row is the only real penalty part of the death penalty.

Amen