Murdering those who Murder
By Steve Kinsman, 6th Jun 2012 | Follow this author
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Posted in WikinutNewsCrime
A mother whose children were murdered makes a plea to spare the life of the killer. Her plea was ignored.
An eye for an eye
In 1990, a drunk and drug-crazed Henry "Curtis" Jackson stabbed to death four of his young nieces and nephews. Regina Jackson, mother of two of the children, was attacked as well but survived. Despite an impassioned plea from both her and her sister, whose two children were also killed, to spare Curtis from death, the State of Mississippi executed him yesterday, June 5th. In her plea, Regina said "we can't take any more killing."
Ms. Jackson wrote to the Governor of Mississippi, Phil Bryant, pointing out to him that if the state killed Curtis, "they're doing the same thing that he did." She declared to the press: "We are the victims in this case. We have been through enough. I stand before you today and say, God is Love. And I love my brother Curtis because of who he was, not because of the man he became that night."
Regina Jackson is right of course. It makes no sense to murder people who murder people, and it is past time to abolish the death penalty throughout the United States. Capital punishment is nothing more than a sacrifice on the altar of the gods of vengeance and political expediency. Indeed, I found it sickening when George W. Bush bragged about how many people he had executed when he was Governor of Texas. As Gandhi said, "an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind."
Comments
6th Jun 2012 (#)
Steve, Thank you for this article. She is right in her plea.
I have long believed that part of the mark of a civilised society is one where the state does not sponsor murder. The death penalty is barbaric and any society that includes it is barbarian in nature.
The UK removed the death penalty in 1966 and will not extradite suspects to the United States unless the death penalty is removed from the list of potential penalties imposed. Canada, my nationality of choice, also does not have a death penalty.
The death penalty serves no function in a modern civilised society and it is about time the USA listens to its friends and neighbours.
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6th Jun 2012 (#)
Thank you, Peter, for your very perceptive and thoughtful comments about the barbarity of the death penalty. Unfortunately, there seems to be something in the collective American psyche, perhaps because we are historically such a violent country, that finds the 'eye for an eye' philosophy appealing.
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7th Jun 2012 (#)
This is armchair talk please. death penalty is a great deterrent. Europe is suffering as every killer knows that come what may he will LIVE
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6th Jun 2012 (#)
Steve, with thinking people like yourself as a part of the American psyche I have every confidence that the future is a rosy one for the United States. If you look at the history of any nation you will see violence, competition, and hatred. Yet most nations have left that exactly where it should be - in the past.
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6th Jun 2012 (#)
I hope you're right Peter.
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6th Jun 2012 (#)
Steve, Peter, I respect your right to your opinions, but I disagree with them. I believe in the death penalty for certain crimes and will defend it to my last breath.
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6th Jun 2012 (#)
I applaud you for sticking to your beliefs Jerry, but those who believe as you do must ask themselves how the death penalty can be justified when on numerous occasions innocent men have been executed. And why is it that in some of the states where it is in effect the homicide rate is higher than in states that have abolished it? Certainly it is and never was a deterrent. The death penalty is simply revenge, and we should have moved beyond that. Thanks for commenting. I appreciate it.
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6th Jun 2012 (#)
An eye for an eye is taken out of context.. it was talking about the legal system and never said a life for a life.
Jesus said."You have heard that it was said, 'AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.' But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also... You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (Matthew 5:38-39, 43-44)
great article Steve.. xo
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7th Jun 2012 (#)
Yes, your point is well taken, but the expression has come to mean for most of us "Vengeance is mine." Taken out of context or not, the fact remains that capital punishment must end. It succeeds only in killing. It doesn't deter. I appreciate your commenting shallimarRose.
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7th Jun 2012 (#)
I am afraid Steve for once I have to oppose you. There is a difference in a crime of passion and a crime committed deliberately by a man in the name of religion or a compulsive killer. In the second case death is a mandatory requirement. I will give you one case. In India one killer was given a 20 year jail term. He on his release again committed a few more murders as he was a psychopath killer who just loved to kill. On his sentencing the Judge observed in case death had been awarded earlier innocent lives could have been saved.
i am amused about people advocating abolition of death sentence. In my visit to Denmark 3 months back most people I met felt that the death penalty needs to be reintroduced. Food for thought. I have no doubt that in some countries in Europe death penalty will be reintroduced.
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7th Jun 2012 (#)
I hope you're wrong about European countries re-instituting the death penalty. In the case you cite, the man let out of jail tomurder again should have been locked away for life. If he had been sentenced to life without the possibility of parole, which I think all who commit murder should be, he would never have had the opportunity to kill again.
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7th Jun 2012 (#)
Abolish the death penalty and lock them away for Life? Is that your solution Steve? Unless you are advocating the building of more super-max prisons where the inmates are confined to their cells 23 out of every 24 hours, they will still kill again. They will kill other inmates or even prison staff. I'm sorry if this offends you, Steve, but you are living in a dream world.
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7th Jun 2012 (#)
My good friend Jerry: I think we're just going to have to agree to disagree on this one. I hope you would concede that we've put to death more than a few innocent men because of the death penalty. As far as inmates killing other inmates and guards, that is the failure of the prison system when their in-house security is sloppy. There will always be killings in prison - most of them committed by men who have not killed before. Psychopathic killers? - yes, they should be locked up in isolation for 23 of every 24 hours. Build more prisons? Free the thousands who are in there for "crimes" like marijuana possession and there would be plenty of room for maximum security cells to house society's most violent criminals. I appreciate your comments, Jerry.
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