Questions And Answers On The Death Penalty

The following questions were directed to me from a high school student researching the death penalty.

Q. What was your first reaction to the murder of your sister? Why did your opinions change as time progressed?

A. My first reaction was disbelief that my sister had been murdered. When one person studies the grieving process, most people first have a reaction of disbelief that their loved one is gone. My opinion changed concerning the death penalty as I became more educated about how the penalty is used and applied.

Q. Do you think that when you wrote to George W. Bush in 1997 your letter was even taken into consideration?

A. I had hoped that George W. Bush would have read my letter and considered my thoughts and words. I have learned that politicians such as George W. Bush or any other governor, senator etc, generally does not see letters such as the one you are asking about. What I have learned is that aids will read letters such as mine. I also have learned that these same aids will respond to the letter with a form letter. The form letter may be modified by adding a paragraph or two. However the basic part of the letter will remain the same. I have proof of this considering the fact that I had the chance to observe three separate replies to letters which were sent from Mr. Bush's office concerning Karla Faye Tucker. They all said the same thing. Only mine had one additional paragraph which said this matter is of personal importance to my family.

Q. Do you think that Karla's change in prison is typical of many murderers?

A. If you are referring to Karla's change concerning her religion, (finding Jesus), it is very common for those who are imprisoned to try to find the Lord. A lot of people will say "They all find religion when on death row". Maybe that is true, or maybe it is just that they know they are closer to death than most of us. After all, most people do "find religion" sometime before they die.

Q. Some murderers truly never change while they are in prison, and even try to harm people while they are in prison. Do you think that death for these people may just be an easy way out? Do you think that life-imprisonment without parole might even be a more deserving and harsher punishment than dying?

A. The only way a person will change is if they want to change. You can classify them any way you want, the factor still remains the same. Each one of us has the ability to change things in our lives if we so choose. The important thing to remember is that it is up to us if we are going to change. No one can make anyone do something they do not want to do.

LWOP (Life Without Parole) could be considered a more just and deserving punishment than death. Many who oppose the death penalty will say that it is an easy way out. It would be much harder to live each day knowing what you have done, and allow it to haunt you all of your life, than to be simply put to death. After all, death is finality, as far as this world is concerned. After that is the judgement, which we all face.

Q. If you had to limit the reasons as to why the death penalty is unjust, name your top 3 reasons.

A.
1. The death penalty is not applied evenly and fairly to all murderers.
2. Statistics show that the poor and minorities tend to receive the death penalty more than their rich and majority counterparts in society.
3. Finally, it is not applied biblically. In the old testament, the death penalty is called for more than just murderers. If we are to base it on the old testament, then why is it that adulterers, or little children who might curse their mother or father, or a gay or lesbian are not put to death? All of those and more can be found in the old testament Leviticus Chapter 20.

Q. Some people are against capital punishment, yet still think that terrorists should be executed. What would you say to them?

A. That is a difficult question to answer. However, if you are going to believe in something, you have to apply it evenly and fairly too all, otherwise you would have a biased opinion and your reasoning would be flawed.

Q. What would your alternative be for the death penalty?

A. The only just alternative in my opinion would be a life sentence without any chance of parole. Furthermore, if someone was condemned to this punishment, and murdered again while imprisoned, solitary confinement would be the final solution. Surely this may sound cruel, however one must remember that the person must be punished and society must be protected.

Q. Clearly some victim's families could never even fathom forgiving their loved one's murderer. How would you try to convince a family that revenge is not the best way to deal with the loss of a loved one?

A. Forgiving is something that can be a very hard thing to do. It becomes easier when one learns that they too need to be forgiven. Probably everyone at one time or another has heard "The Lord's Prayer". The key words here is "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us".

Again I must stress that no one can make anyone do something they do not want to do. Until that victim can find it in their heart to forgive, they surely will not. It has to be a individual choice. It took me eight years to forgive those who murdered my family.