Voicing my convictions.
|25.Sep.2007Warning: Not a fun and light post.
In one of her recent posts, It’s Not Just a Women’s Issue, Julie closed with some strong words that I’ve chewed on a few days.
Act according to your convictions. Realize and accept that not everyone will agree with you, but have the courage to act anyway – whether that means deactivating your Facebook account, refusing to fly on a particular airline, or answering honestly when someone asks where you attend church.
If you follow the link, you’ll see her post was about what she called the “latest social media debacle” – Facebooks’ ridiculous deletion of photos of breastfeeding babies. However, as she stated above, this can apply to anything.
Today, it applies to me and my stance on Capital Punishment.
We lost a member of our community yesterday. Her name was Susan Canfield, and she was an officer for TDCJ. She and a few other officers were guarding minimum security prisoners from the Wynne Unit on a work detail outside of the gate. The Wynne Unit has a trustee camp. The trustees are prisoners who, as a result of their good disciplinary records, have more freedoms than other prisoners. These prisoners were not trustees, but still working outside the gate for whatever reason.
Two inmates managed to wrestle weapons away from a pair of guards, then traded gunfire with officers, stole a flat-bed truck and ran Susan Canfield down, on her horse, and killed her.
I can’t even believe these two inmates, with their history, could have been allowed outside the gate. One was in prison for murder, the other for attempted murder. Heck, I don’t understand why they weren’t executed already. I absolutely and positively disagree with prison for life sentences for murderers and those who attempt murder.
These two were “at large” at the time I picked Emelie up from school for an eye doctor appointment. Every school in town had every entrance locked and guarded. As is the procedure, students are even locked into their actual classrooms. I was able to leave the school with her, but when we arrived at the eye doctor, we couldn’t get in that door – it was locked. Why? Because they were protecting themselves from what had JUST HAPPENED THERE.
The escapees had parked the flatbed truck they stole in the old Kentucky Fried Chicken parking lot right behind our Optometrist’s building. Then, they ran across the street to the bank and abducted a woman trying to ATM. Holding a gun to her head, one of the prisoners crawled into the back of the truck and the other, in the front seat, forced the woman to drive away from the bank parking lot. The employees and patrons at the Optometrist’s office had just watched the event unfold. Everyone had hit the floor as officers fired on the truck, busting out the tires. The woman and vehicle were abandoned and the escapees took off on foot.
The manhunt continued for several more hours, with both escapees caught in the end. The entire town was on alert. While on the run, the escapees tried to get into a back door at Wal*mart. I can’t imagine the damage they could have caused in a store full of possible hostages. Their plan was ridiculous and poorly thought out. I’m glad.
At one point it was rumored that one had been shot dead behind Wal*mart and I was immediately thankful. Then, it was released that he was caught and I felt a deep sense of frustration to know he was still alive.
When the second escapee was caught south of town, high in a tree and nearly naked (trying to throw off the bloodhounds chasing him down with armed officers on horseback), I didn’t feel a deep sense of relief, but of anger.
I wished it was different.
I wish that their previous charges, combined with the current murder and escape efforts, could have cost them their life on the spot. In my opinion, it warranted a “shoot to kill” release for any and every officer.
I wanted my tax monies to pay for a bullet to their head and not what will happen – time in County Jail, a trial, and then maybe death row.
I support Capital Punishment, but I think we take too much stinkin’ time to fulfill the ruling.
Two men killed Susan Canfield yesterday in an attempt to gain a freedom they stole from their own selves. One was even questioned about whether he was remorseful and he said he had nothing to lose. NOTHING TO LOSE?!
Susan had a husband of 18 years to lose.
She had a family.
She had friends.
I am telling you these men will spend the next 10 years – if not more – waiting to die.
I don’t think our system bites because every once in a while we might just kill an innocent man or woman.
Nope, our system bites because we give life sentences, and “good behavior” duties, rather than a quick shot to the head.
AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Bruce W. Moore
64 Comments
Anne
I am sooo glad you and your family missed the action. I live in a small town, too and we are not far from two major prisons – one for men and one for women. Everytime someone escapes, my mother-in-law goes into high alert. We live off the road not near any neighbors and she is afraid something will happen to us. I’m trying to remain calm and she is calling freaking out. Not a good situation.
I am not opposed to the death penalty. Sometimes there is no other choice. I am opposed to the injustices in the system. Why are these people escaping? Why are they sitting aorund so long? Why are minorities more likely to go to jail and why are many people poorly defended? None of this is right. Not a bit of it. As for chlid molesters, esp. the kind mentioned, I believe the death penalty should be applied to them. Prison is not a rehabilitation gig here. It is a warehousing gig and I am not pleased that my hard-earned money is taken from my family to pay for things like that. Pray HARD.
SmocknMama
for Alicia and others who think carrying/learning/using guns is NOT useful:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1818862/posts
Kari
Me again … the anti-death penalty Australian! (And KC – I don’t see how living in the US would change my perspective)
Lanna – in response to your question about consequences, I think they can be locked up in jail for life. The evidence showing that the death penalty apparently acts as a deterrent is shaky at best. There’s just as much evidence proving that it isn’t a deterrent.
I think instead of focussing on the death penalty, perhaps you all should be lobbying for harsher sentencing. I believe that rapists and child molesters and murderers should be in jail for life. I don’t think they should get out on ‘good behaviour’ or parole, but they definitely shouldn’t get the death penalty. And also lobby to reduce prisoner’s rights if you are concerned about the cost of keeping them in prison.
Also in regards to cost, apparently each death penalty case costs something like $23 million more per case than a life sentence. And I know that many of you will then state that’s why they should be put to death quicker, but no one has responded to the fact that the majority of death row inmates are minorities and the poor. Am I to assume that you don’t care the death penalty more often applies to black people and the poor? And that you don’t care that the death penalty kills innocent people? Shouldn’t you be focussing on the fact that the justice system isn’t fair, that equal sentencing should be provided regardless of race or economic status?
And maybe if there was more consistent and harsher sentencing that would act as just as much of a deterrent and also reduce the need for the public to defend themselves against serial offenders.
Can someone give me stats that show carrying guns and the death penalty has reduced homicides and other serious offences?
OMSH
Kari – I’m sorry if you felt attacked. I appreciated your honesty in responding to my post.
And please, everyone responding, I really do want to hear your personal stances, but I do not want this to become a venue for attacking others in their own stances.
I am NOT saying that solid discussion can’t be had, just that I’d prefer it to not become an argument.
As I stated before, it has never been my intention to go head to head or bit by bit over my personal stance. I have spent time coming to terms with what I think and feel and why I think and feel it. I do not feel it is necessary to explain the extent of it.
I’ve read all the responses and it does give me much to chew on, though I haven’t changed my mindset.
Thanks to all for putting your own thoughts here. It is IMPORTANT for all of us to not ever shut our minds to the explanations and words of others because something – even a minor little something – might just enlighten us or stretch us in a way we might not have thought of before.
Alicia
Actually, Lanna, the evidence is that homicide rates are higher in states with the death penalty. I posted this link in an earlier comment as well.
http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?&did=1705#stateswithvwithout
Alicia
SmocknMama, I certainly can’t argue with the numbers. Kennesaw made it a law that you have to own guns, and crime went down. But Kennesaw is a small, rich town where median incomes are $20,000 higher than the rest of the state, and most people already owned guns. Do you honestly think that if you required everyone to maintain a gun in cities with the highest crime rates (Baltimore, Washington DC, Detroit, St. Louis) you’d get the same results?
SmocknMama
Alicia (and others), to answer your question, YES. I do think that. Honestly, I think that it should be all or nothing, one or the other, but nothing in between. Kennesaw didn’t just require it a law to make everyone own guns, they also required them to know how to use it. I don’t think it matters where you live, if the “bad guys” know you have a gun, know how to use it and WILL use it, they will be much more inclined NOT to bother you. I know this first hand. I grew up in a pretty good section of town, my eyes protected from a lot of things out there. My grandfather began teaching me to hunt when I was about ten years old. He taught me how to use a gun, respect a gun, clean a gun, etc. My guns stayed with him as my father didn’t want them in the house. We were robbed one day. Targeted by the robber because he watched and studied the neighbor hood. The only houses that got hit were the gunless ones.
For reasons not important to this post or comment I left home early, went to college, putting myself through a private university. To make ends meet I spent one semester living in my car, literally. I had no money for room and board, but I was determined to finish school. I got one of my hand guns from my grandfather and carried the proper paperwork and slept with my gun (covered) across my lap in my car. I was interrupted four times at night by men with the wrong ideas in their heads trying to break into my car. I showed the gun, never aiming it, and each one running off. I saved some money and moved into a dive to get out of my car. I paid $25.00 a week to live in this dive. I slept with my gun either across my chest or under my pillow. IT went with me everywhere, because coming and going from my neighborhood was dangerous. My “apartment” was broken into every. single. day. I set traps and had a friend in the police department help me with some stealthiness. I got tired of my place being ransacked and torn apart. I went to my grandfathers house, got my biggest hunting gun I had (it wasn’t very big, but neither am I) I was 5’2″ and barely 100 pounds, but my policeman friend took a picture of me holding my Marlin 357 in my Army cammos, blew it up, and pasted it to my front door. I was never robbed or bothered again.
Do I think that gun control having no guns would deter crime? No I do not. While some countries have done well with allowing only those who hunt to own hunting guns, and adding very high taxes to this process. The problem with this is that then it becomes a socio-economic issue, allowing only the wealthy to own guns.
I know that there will still be crime, even violent crime, whether we have guns or not. I was raped at 15 and no guns were involved, but I wish I had had mine on me then.
I like the death penalty. I wish more states used it. I do not agree 100% with Heather on the issues, but I do believe it is biblical as well. I think it should be used more prudently with less appeals and processes and used only on cut and dry cases. But yes, I believe it should exist.
Vanessa
I’m Canadian, so we don’t have capital punishment here, and thats something I’m pretty thankful for. I wouldn’t wanna be facing the guy at the Pearly Gates if I had pushed the plunger of a needle into an innocent man’s arm, thats for darn sure. While vengence sounds fabulous in most cases of crime, its not what we’re taught by said big guy.
On the flip side, I definitely think the prison system is too cushy, comfy and cosy, as of late. I don’t think humans should be treated like animals, even if they’ve behaved like them. However, all they should have is the absolute bare necessities. Enough basic food to eat, enough to drink, something to wear, and a place to sleep.
Other than that, I say life in prison should look pretty bleak. Television, internet or phone? Heck no. Rec rooms of any sort? No way. Access to getting a university or college degree while in prison? Absolutely not. If we allow that kind of stuff, the state/province/country is paying room and board while someone gets their degree. Does that sound like punishment to you?
As far as I’m concerned, let them rot in a cell somewhere. And no getting out early on parole for good behaviour either. Just serve the sentence that was handed to you for the crime you committed. End of story.
KC
@ Kari,
I like the post before me here, from Vanessa in Canada.
The reason I feel you would change your perspective if you lived here is because I do not believe that you realize the extent of what goes on here. For example, what happens in Texas I don’t hear about on the West Coast because our news is too busy reporting on an escaped rapist and a hostage sitiation. That was just yesterday on 5 o’clock news. Right now they are reporting on a body found in the river.
My point is HEINOUS crime is sadly an everyday thing over here all across the US. I am sure you are aware that Australia and the US are basically the same size in land mass but differ drastically in population. It stands to reason that the more people you have then the more crazies you will have, wild guess at population, Australia 20 million, the US 400 million. That is a wild guess.
The problem with the criminal system here is that there is NO DETERRENT. There are no real consequences for the people comitting crimes. Jail is way to lush for my liking and criminals are being released way too early. For a few reasons, good behavior and also over crowding.
It makes me angry to hear day in and day out how someone is released for murder only to do it again and same for child molesters and rapists.
Life in prisonment should MEAN that and as we do have the death penalty (in some States) I believe we should use it. I have no doubt that if we did, it would be a deterrent. The reason life is cheaper than death row is due to all the appeals.
Personally I think life in prison without the comforts of home is far more of a punishment than death. However life in prison is not that.
There have been criminals that have admitted to re offending JUST TO GO BACK TO JAIL because they know they will get 3 meals, a bed, a TV etc.
I also STRONGLY disagree with you on saying that those on death row are minorities/poor. Since I have lived here the MAJORITY of the people that have had their death sentences carried out were white. WHITE. I also want to point out that they had been on death row for many years, in some cases 20. Every single one of them comitted the most heinsous of crimes.
When it is cut and dry I am all for the death penalty. I also agree with the people that have posted the fact that the criminals seem to have more rights than the victims.
All I am saying is that if you actully lived here you would see the big picture. Austrlia does not have enough hours in the day to cover all the crime that happens here and I am talking crime such as murder and rape. Heck WE do not have enough hours in the day to cover all the crime that happens day in and day out. Obviously, IMO there is no deterrent or consequence.
Check out the stats for crime in NYC after 9/11. It went down significantly under Mayor Gulliani. NYC went from the worst City for crime to the City with the least.
I don’t know why you are so concerned with the death penalty here anyway as it is a long time before it is carried out. I cannot remember the past person that we used it on. The death penalty is NOT a deterrent here becasue it is a long time coming if ever.
Not every State has it.
The criminals know this.
Again…..there are no consequences or deterrents over here. I fully believe if there were we would see a decrease in heinous crime.
When a man rapes and then murders an 8 year old girl…..WHY should he live?
What if it were your child?
I know if it were mine you would have to fight my Husband and I for who gets to him first.
Well I am leaving for Australia for a month and fly out tomorrow night so much to do. I know what Australians say over there “Only in America”. I was one of them before I moved here. Living here since 1988 has changed my views a great deal.
I would hate to be a Police Officer over here. They bave one of the hardest jobs.
Emily R
Wow. I read this a few days ago and chose not to comment, but I’m developing some strong opinions here as I read through the comments of others.
I like what Kari had to say. I also like (most of) what OMSH had to say.
I think I don’t support the death penalty. I think some situations may warrant it, but I feel our society implements it poorly and with vengeful motivations. Were a family member of mine a victim, I would hope I would be able to forgive. That doesn’t mean criminals ought not to be punished. On the contrary, I think they should be punished more severely. Solitary is much harsher than death in my opinion. And it’s true, with the appeals and all it is more expensive to have someone on death row, if money is the issue.
I believe people can be rehabilitated. I believe in NOT giving everyone a second chance in society even if they are rehabilitated. There should be consequences.
It bothers me a lot that the poor and minorities are punished more. No, it bothers me that the rich and white are punished less. That’s a societal problem that goes way beyond the penal system.
Oh boy, my brain has gone way beyond my fingers to hell in a handbaskets, and the breakdown of families and on and on. This makes me sad. But I’m going to go home and bake cookies for my neighbors.
Oh, to the bible quoters out there, most of you stopped in the OT, law of Moses stuff. When Christ came, he fulfilled that law and gave the higher law of love thy enemy, bless them that curse you and all of that. So unless you’re Jewish, you don’t have a leg to stand on. :)
Love,
Emily
OMSH
Emily – I would agree that the “eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” OT cannot be used by Christians as an argument for capital punishment.
I also do not believe that the “turn the other cheek” quote from the Sermon on the Mount can be used to refute Capital Punishment.
Both have a context that is not really all that applicable here.
So much good discussion.
I find I have a tendency not to lean toward any extreme groups when it comes to statistics. If there was one thing I learned in College Math (and I assure you I didn’t take much of that with me) it is that statistics can be manipulated to say whatever anyone wants them to say.
Those FOR the death penalty can sway them their way. Those OPPOSED can do the same. So much of this boils down to personal conviction, the definitions of self defense, exacting revenge, and one’s take on forgiveness and accountability.
bethany actually
Wow, SmocknMama. You clearly have some interesting stories to tell! And you’ve given me food for thought.
KYouell
Wow! Look what I missed! I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed reading this, so glad all the OMSHes are ok, and the comments were very thoughtful.
I’m not going to add anything else this time since I kind of hi-jacked the post last time.
Keep on being bold!