Friday, February 22, 2008

No Second Chance



Keith’s post ‘Eye for an Eye’ triggered the following response from me and it fits the prompt at WI and the one at SS to the 'T'. Please take a moment to read his post where he asks how one feels about capital punishment. It is thought provoking and a must-read. I have to warn you in advance that I am truly passionate about this subject and my stand on it, anyone who could convince me otherwise deserves an award. Having said that, here I go.

In my perspective capital punishment SHOULD NOT be banned. It has a right to remain in every judicial system across the world. To me, true justice SHOULD be meted out to any human who commits a crime, in some cases true justice can only be handed out through capital punishment, nothing else would do.


In the Steve Wright case mentioned in Keith’s post, killing eight innocent women means, he should be killed eight times. He has no right for a second chance. He killed; he deserves to die several deaths. Simple! But this is a black and white scenario and such cases are always easy to judge. It’s the ‘in-betweens’ that are hard to figure out.


What bugs me is the thousands of other Steve Wrights' lurking in society, pretending to be the upholders of justice… the child molesters and rapists who easily slip through society’s fingers. And what of the politicians who play inhuman games for their own benefits? And the corporate climbers who are willing to take up any means to reach the top of their ladders…thus killing, destroying innocent lives? Where’s justice there?


So death penalty should be the least of the worries in any judicial system. Anyone who debates against death penalty has nothing else to do…my message to them, "Go find ways to catch those zillion criminals who are ‘free and going about their business without a worry’ instead of wasting everyone’s time! Atleast by doing this, you would bring beauty back into several innocent lives, thus giving them a second chance that they truly DESERVE.”


##########################
In response to the prompt from WI
and the prompt from SS
##########################

34 comments:

Sherry said...

This was written with "passion" stamped all over it!

Preethi said...

Very lucid post.. came here from Keith's so my mind is already reeling.. I have often wondered if people should be given a chance to redeem oneself.. but after seeing cases like the Jessica Lunsford one - http://www.jessicamarielunsford.com/ where an ex-convict was a culprit.. I think again.. and again .. and again!!

Anonymous said...

I don't think there are many cases on record in which the execution of a criminal has relieved another person's pain. And if it has I find it to be a rather odd thing that one person's relief is based on another person's demise.

"Oh, goodie, they executed so-and-so! I feel so much better..."

Here's a vote for life without the possibility of parole.

And, actually, those of us who don't support state sanctioned murders, a.k.a., executions, have a lot of other things to do with our time - like contributing to Writers Island. :-)

But I admit, I'm not out there chasing corporate criminals.

qualcosa di bello said...

without getting political ( i don't do politics/political issues on blogs ), i applaud your clarity & your logic!

Granny Smith said...

I agree with Richard. I am PASSIONATELY against the death penalty.

If you don't believe in the sanctity of human life, at least think of the USA reputation in the world where most nations have outlawed the death penalty.

Devil Mood said...

OK, you've made your point! It's good to be passionate about the things we believe in, isn't it?

That being said, the world isn't a fair place and I don't think the death penalty makes it any fairer. But the Internet is a democratic place :)

Anonymous said...

UL, the reaction to my piece has quite taken me by suprise. There are certainly some very strong feelings out there. I didn't mention one factor in the case of Steve Wright incase it detracted from the theme of my post. The 8 murdered girls were all prostitutes - another subject which divides opinion.

Incidentally, he was today sentenced to life imprisonment with a judicial instruction that he is to stay in jail for the rest of his life. At least he will have plenty of time to consider what he has done. Many have commented today that had we had capital punishment, he would in fact have got off lightly without facing the life of misery he will now have to endure.

I'm still on the fence.

Jane said...

I also believe that punishment should be swift. "an eye for an eye" as they say.

Have a happy weekend :)

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

Wow, UL. This is bold. Not in a bad way; I see your point.

I'm hung up on the grey areas today; a local man was sentenced to die for killing an old woman. A mostly premeditated murder.

Okay, a life for a life, right?

It all just seems so pointless. The younger man who did it. The fact that this woman is dead. And now, that this guy will die, too.

I don't know... it just seems ... like it's not changing anything for the better.

But who knows. Maybe it is and I just can't see the changes yet. Maybe I can't see the kid who'll think about this case and the consequences and ... won't do whatever it was that kid was going to do.

At least, I hope that'll happen.

Whitesnake said...

Tough one girl!

I need a think!

Anonymous said...

Exceptional writing. Two prompts for the price of one - VERY WELL DONE!

awareness said...

I find that as I get older, I am more on the fence with this issue. I used to be adamantly opposed....for many passionate reasons. But, there have been some really horrendous incidents that have stirred this issue in my thinking.

There is a case in Vancouver right now that is so disgusting and horrifying and beyond my comprehension (robert pickton) that I can't bear reading about it. It also has to do with the murder of several women who were living and working as prostitutes. When i think of it now, my gut reaction is to resurrect Capital punishment just to get rid of this monster.....

but then i think of how he will suffer with his thoughts......

One of the areas we NEED to shore up is the fact that life in prison isn't followed through AND that prison shouldn't be so frigging cushy!

Anonymous said...

I have to say I am not a supporter of the death penalty. For me it is black and white in that taking another humans life is wrong full stop. I can't choose the kind of people I want to remain alive and walking around, or not, any more than Steve Wright can. I'm not sure I really understand what you mean by 'true justice', how can anything, even death, really provide true justice for murdering 5 innocent women?

Anyway, passionate writing! Certainly provoked a response!!

Gemma Wiseman said...

Steve Wright could almost be a clone for Jack the Ripper! Just a passing thought! But I loved the spilling of passion in your post!

I am not totally convinced that "man" has the ultimate right to take a life ever. I do believe passionately in the concept of karma! It has a beautiful habit of meting out just the right response at the right time.

Smiles and Light

Anonymous said...

A child molester deserves to die. Most feel that way. But I think, chemical castration is what he truly deserves. When he dies a thousand deaths each day of his life.

Capital punishment in a way is easy way out. Living forever with one's conscience is tougher.

Life for a life, it somehow does not gel with me.

paisley said...

where as i am sure there are many that share this opinion,, i am left wondering who among you is willing to do the killing... not i....

Robin said...

I respectfully disagree completely with your stance, but I admire your passion.

Whether or not someone *deserves* to die for their crimes is irrelevant, the state does not have the right to murder them. How can you use killing to show that killing is wrong...

anthonynorth said...

I am passionately against the death penalty. But coming from the UK, where a murderer can be released after only a few years, I do feel we need a serious review of a life sentence.
As someone who has studied criminals for many years, the thing most intriguing about the Wright case is that he killed five prostitutes in six weeks.
This is pretty much unique. Serial killers tend to kill with far greater space between killings. What we have here is a serial killer who has hints of a spree killer.
Is this indicative of a change in the 'culture' of killings, or simply an anomaly? If the former, we need to know. Could Wright give criminologists any indication if he was dead?

Lifeless in Ohio said...

I do believe certain crimes need the death penalty.

Anonymous said...

This is a very loaded issue. I live in Australia where capital punishment is illegal but I have mixed feelings about the subject. When I was working as a journalist a few years back I covered a story where an 18 year old girl was gang raped by six men. They raped her for an entire day over and over and then killed her. It was one of the most horrific things I have ever seen. I still have nightmares about it. I believe every case should be judged on its own merits (or lack thereof) but in this case I would have shot the perpetrators myself. No one should have to go throught that. No one. You have written a very powerful piece.

a mouthy irish woman? ridiculous! said...

a beautifully, passionate post. my passion? is educating others on how to recognize the advancements of preditors like that. things that i didn't know to look for when i was little and subsequently violated. thank you for your beautiful writing.

Anonymous said...

Wow! UL, that was passionate. I do share your views but I do not believe Capital Punishment should be the one sentence for all murderers. The circumstances should be weighed. In the case mentioned here, I would tend to side with you. If a murder was in self defense or if it was provoked by years of mental torture or by someone mentally imbalanced, it would change my view.

Patois42 said...

Thanks for sending me Keith's way as well. Your passion comes through loud and clear. I'm as passionate for wanting justice, but I seem unable to take the final step to trip the wire.

Anonymous said...

Here's another vote for life without parole! I think that most people who kill would suffer far worse if they had to sit in jail.

But we each have the freedom of choice to think the way we wish and I thought you wrote a very passionate and clear view of your thoughts.

Jeques said...

UL,

Powerful, no non-sense voice, I heard your convictions loud and clear. You have a point.

I wish you well.

~ Jeques

aMus said...

UL, This was indeed a passionate post…here is my dollar’s worth……

My blood boils when I think of the criminals like the child molesters. A murderer is a murderer.

the heart thinks that yes, they should die, the head unfortunately doesn't...

no way can I reconcile myself to the fact that a group of x people can behave like the almighty and knowingly decide to take away somebody’s life. What difference would there be between him and them then? A harsh strenuous punishment with no possibility of release, or as gautami says...and probably an opportunity for remorse could be the better thing. For that matter, this was one murderer who was caught how about the others who walk away scot free…what if the ones deciding his fate also have something to hide?

Who gives the right to take someone’s life…no body…

Prats said...

This topic can really bring out the inner passion in anyone. Most times it is divided between yes they should, no they should be given a chance...but I always say, by killing the person, you've given him redemption...he's gone and so has his crimes. Instead let him live and go through the same pain that he inflicted on others. Keep him locked up for his entire life...

ren powell said...

Well, I disagree. But thinking should never be banned. And "killed eight times" would be a great title for a book.

Rambler said...

I think death penalty should be present, In many a places where only guard against crime is the ultimate precious gift one possesses, thats life,

Very thoughtful post.

Tumblewords: said...

I so agree with you and really admire the way you wrote this! Excellent!

Lucy said...

wow Ul, I admire your passion! I wouldn't dare debate you on the topic even If an award WAS at stake, HOWEVER! What would happen to those poor Innocent people who have been convicted falsely? Have you ever seen the movie The Shawshank redemption? If Not PLEASE rent it and then tell me if I get that award! :)

little wing writer said...

this is a tough one... i admire your perspective and your passion... at times i scream at the top of my lungs kill the b@#$$^&d.. and then i cry out wondering how long will we kill each other...does killing another bring justice or not... i do not know..

Anonymous said...

This is a very emotionally charged topic. I agree with you, usually. However, there are some times that it seems so wrong to execute someone, especially with out flawed "justice system" where many are convicted unjustly. But, I do believe that if a person is truly guilty, they should definitely be put to death. No doubt about that.

Anonymous said...

This is a topic a lot of us really need to spend some time thinking about. There are plenty of pros and cons.