Dr. Allan Ault, retired Director of the Georgia Department of Corrections and a former warden charged with overseeing executions. Dr. Ault referenced the rehearsing of the execution - the premeditation of killing someone - and how, the state sanctioned pre-meditated murder of a convicted person condemned to death - reduces those prison officials to acts that can only be against the conscience. Dr. Ault said they are "bothered" by it the rest of their lives. Dr. Ault called the governor of my state a psychopath - certainly not by name - but by word and deed - he has presided over the largest number of executions by one governor in this country and by his words at the recent debate where he made the claim that signing the execution orders for so many people "didn't bother him at all". He also talked about the murdered victim's family and how, after an execution, they realize it brought them no closure, no sense of justice.
I used to think there were certain people who "needed killing". Those people that society was better off without - the Ted Bundy's, child rapists and murderers, people who tortured and killed for pleasure. I told myself that society was better off with them dead and not worrying about them escaping or getting out. Of course, I wanted strong evidence of their guilt - DNA, video, undisputed and unambiguous proof of their guilt. However, there were things about these people actually being executed that were problematic for me too.
One problem is the revenge angle. If you murder to avenge a murder it is revenge. There is no escape from that. Another problem is that after they are executed, there is nothing more. No more opportunity to discover where bodies are located as in Ted Bundy's case. No more opportunity to glean information regarding accomplices, motives, and mechanics of the crime. It also cuts drastically the time the murderer has to realize the enormity of the crime, and, maybe, to repent of it. Executions also cheapen life. How can anyone revere life and believe in the death penalty?
Here in Texas, it is widely believed, an innocent young father was wrongly executed for killing his children. Cameron Todd Willingham had been awakened by his 2 year old and the house was full of smoke and flames. He told her to go outside and tried to get to the babies' room but was unable to reach it. Later, he was arrested and charged with his daughters' deaths - the state charged he had murdered his 2 year old and twin 1 year old children by arson two days before Christmas. An expert panel, the Texas Forensic Science Panel, was to investigate the "science" Willingham was convicted on but Rick Perry replaced members of the panel and their meeting looking into this case was cancelled due to Rick Perry's replacement members. Fire investigator Dr. Gerald Hurstor stated unequivocally there was no arson. In fact, he investigated another conviction for arson murder in the case of another death row inmate, Ernest Wills. Dr. Hurstor said the two cases were identical with only the names being different. In the Wills case, the prosecutor had Ernest Wills released! But Willingham was executed. The case can be read about in the New Yorker 2009 article Did Texas Execute An Innocent Man?
Tonight, Texas executed Laurence Russell Brewer for the dragging death of Mr. James Byrd. Laurence Brewer confessed to his part in beating and dragging Mr. Byrd. Laurence Brewer was a member of a white supremacist group, a splinter faction of the KKK, called the Confederate Knights of America and wanted to start a race war. Certainly a heinous crime. There is no doubt of Laurence Brewer's part in the crime since he has readily confessed and has never recanted that confession. Yet, the Byrd family teaches us something - "You can't fight murder with murder. Life in prison would have been fine. I know he can't hurt my daddy anymore. I wish the state would take in mind that this [execution] isn't what we want." , the statement Ross Byrd, Mr. Byrd's 32 year old son made to Reuters yesterday.
This past June, another group of young white haters, decided to beat and rob a black man, James Craig Anderson. One of those young people, 19 year old Deryl Dedmon, is waiting to find out if he will face the death penalty. Mr. Anderson's family though, has made their own position clear. Mr. Anderson's sister, Barbara Young, wrote to the Hinds County DA Robert Smith and told him her family (her mother and two brothers) do not want anyone to face the death penalty. She cited her family's Christian beliefs and their opposition to capital punishment. "Those responsible for James' death not only ended the life of a talented and wonderful man...They have also caused our family unspeakable pain and grief. But our loss will not be lessened by the state taking the life of another." "We also oppose the death penalty because it historically has been used in Mississippi and the South primarily against people of color for killing whites. Executing James' killers will not help balance the scales. But sparing them may help to spark a dialogue that one day will lead to the elimination of capital punishment."
As a person of conscience, I can in no instance, support capital punishment - the death penalty - any longer.
