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Mike Moser Kill them or throw away the key? An eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. Old
Testament law that is still practiced in some countries, and
to an extent, in this country as well. One of the top issues
that will dominate state news this year is Tennessee's death
penalty, or more aptly put, the state's inability to carry out
a death sentence in capital murder cases. I have always publicly stated that I favored
the death sentence for certain crimes, such as the murder of
a police officer, murder of a victim during the commission of
another crime, murder of a victim in the confines of their home.
Nowadays you can add drive-by shootings and this senselessness
called "road rage." There is no room in our crowded society for
have-crazed persons running up and down the road with a loaded
gun, ready to pop the first person that doesn't signal a lane
change. Sure, I get angry at the driving antics of thoughtless
motorists, but I have not reached the point where I want to take
a life because of the stupid actions of someone who doesn't deserve
the privilege to drive. I am sure it might seem presumptuous to some
that I would support the death sentence for certain crimes, as
if I were picking and choosing which criminals have a right to
live and which do not. But I also hold deep the conviction that
we all have to be held accountable for what we do. Still, is the taking of a murderer's life
any different than a murderer taking another's life? In our society
we still hold life precious above all things, and as well, the
right to pursue happiness. When you have become a victim of a
crime, not only are you robbed of possessions, and in the extreme
a loved one or dear friend, but your life is changed forever. Sadly, the lives of families whose members
commit such crimes are also changed and sometimes we in society
forget that. Each victim has a family. So does each perpetrator.
What do we do? Today came the news that a hearing is scheduled
for the purpose of a judge in Memphis to decide whether Coe understands
why he has been on death row for nearly two decades, and specifically,
to determine whether he understands the punishment he is about
to receive, and the reasons for it. His execution is set for March 23. While that may or may not come to pass, the
cost of keeping him alive under these circumstances is killing
all of us. Do we want an income tax to help subsidize such a
circus? You say the income tax will be earmarked for specific
things. Folks, the cost of operating the state may be earmarked
from this fund or that fund, but it all comes from us in one
form of a tax or another. So what should we do? Let's adopt some of the federal laws that
govern criminals who violate the laws of central government,
or let's get out of the killing business. Require a trial within 90 days. If we are
not going to use the death penalty, abolish it. Set up separate
laws for capital cases and require those convicted of hideous
crimes to live their lives in a real prison. Eliminate things
that the working poor would consider luxuries. Let's limit grounds for appeal, and limit
appeal to one. Make defense attorneys touch all the bases the
first time they file that appeal. Eliminate post-trial competency
hearings. If the criminal is competent to stand trial, then he
is competent to take his or her punishment. Admittedly, it is disturbing that more and
more we hear about innocent persons being sent to prison. That
number is very small compared to the big crime picture, almost
immeasurable. With all the latest crime fighting expertise we
have these days, led by DNA testing, those cases are becoming
even fewer. There are countries, some that we consider
less civilized than ours, that carry out death sentences and
do so speedily. Our present system will not allow us to do it.
So if we can't, let's stop the financial bleeding of our society
and throw out the entire process. Maybe locking them up and throwing away the key is the better option. |