Vile Criminals Deserve Death

There is one simple reason why I support the death penalty: because I do not want people who have committed senseless, malicious, violent crimes against innocent people to be allowed to remain in my society, locked-up or not. I want them to die for their sins.

Let me first stipulate that I will not cite any Biblical passages or volunteer any sort of religious evidence for my position - partly because I believe that it is possible for just about anyone to find a passage in the Bible to twist around to support or refute just about any position on just about any subject. Also because, seeing that I do not subscribe to any specific organized religion, I have had limited exposure to the Bible.

Anyway, this whole controversy concerning the moral validity of capital punishment came to my attention the other day while I was watching television. A PBS program called "Frontline" had done a report on the true story behind the book "Dead Man Walking," written by Sister Helen Prejean, which was a primary source for the construction of Tim Robbin's movie of the same name.

The appearance, mannerisms and attitude of the main character, Matthew Poncelet, in "Dead Man Walking," closely resembled those of real-life death row convict Robert Lee Willie, whom Sister Prejean spiritually counseled. Also, the experience of the victim, Hope Percy, in the movie and the reaction of her family, closely paralleled those of the young girl, Faith Hathaway, who was savagely raped, beaten, and killed by Willie. And since Sister Prejean deliberately intended that her book rally people against the death penalty, and because this book served as the central groundwork for the movie "Dead Man Walking," I believe it is important that people be made aware ...

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...ctims, I believe that the death penalty has done its job.

I could also be attacked on the premise that, like many other institutions in this country, the assignment of the death penalty is racially biased. That allegation unfortunately may be true, and should consequently be addressed as Americans continue to seek out and eradicate this country's deplorable racist undertones. Nevertheless, I believe we can fix this troubling shortcoming, without abandoning the policy completely.

The fact is, the government does not seek out people to sentence to death. It is a fate that can only be brought upon someone through his or her own actions. And to be frank, in my opinion, individuals who commit vile, murderous crimes, which show nothing other than a savage indifference to the suffering of a fellow human being, have earned their destiny. It is really that simple.