For most of my life I have been in favor of the death penalty, however after several years of careful consideration I have changed my mind. I now believe that if you really, seriously want to punish someone who has committed a horrific crime, and the choices are (A) a relatively painless “parole” via humane execution, or (B) a never-ending term in a lonely, terrifying, hopelessly depressing, hot-in-summer-cold-in-winter, walls-closing-in, no-possibility-of-release, stinking prison cell, then give that person the latter every time.
Let us briefly consider some of the reasons why society even bothers to send someone to prison. There are at least five good reasons for incarcerating someone who has wantonly broken society’s most sacred laws:
Punishment: Those who demonstrate wanton disregard for the lives, rights and property of others deserve punishment of sufficient severity that it grabs their attention and drives home the message: “This will not be tolerated.”
Protection: An individual or family who has suffered a serious loss due to the deliberate criminal act of another, whether it is loss of property or loss of life, deserves assurance that during the perpetrator’s confinement, that victim or group of victims is safe, protected from further damage by that person.
Protection against the miscarriage of justice: For reasons ranging from simple misidentification to deliberate police or prosecutorial misconduct, innocent people have at times been convicted, sentenced and even executed. The growing body of DNA exonerations proves this beyond doubt. There is no way to say “Ooops!” to someone who has already been put to death.
Rehabilitation: It does not happen often, but with or without the existence of a dedicated rehabilitation program it is at least possible for someone entering prison to reverse the direction of his or her life, and emerge as a productive member of society. It may not happen often, but it is at least possible, and therefore the possibility of rehabilitation must not be foreclosed.
Retribution: Ideally, those who are severely victimized can repair and restore themselves, and never need to look back. However, it is understandable that not everyone who has fallen prey to the deliberate and malicious actions of another can do that. Some victims may need to know that “something is being done to avenge my pain.” There are those who would say that the death penalty best fulfills this goal. However, I would say that at some time in every prison term from which there is zero possibility of parole, there dawns a day when the offender says, “Good grief! I wish I were dead. Why didn’t they just execute me!”
That is the day that the individual victim and society as a whole get whatever retribution they may need. Let us hope that by that time, most victims’ healing will have progressed to the point that vengeance is no longer important. However, if it is needed, this is the day on which a victim who needs revenge begins to reap it.
A true life sentence, that is, life without any possibility of parole, is a much better way than the death penalty to punish someone who has committed a horrendous crime.
Doug Glynn, a retired Social Security district manager, lives in Joplin.
Opinion
Readers react to death penalty: Life sentence is better
Editor’s note: Testimony has begun in the Kansas Senate Judiciary Committee on a proposal to repeal capital punishment. The following are contributions from readers who responded to a request for opinions on the issue.
- Opinion
-
-
Our View: Santorum's Achilles' ear
Rick Santorum knocked everyone for a loop this week, not just with his victory in Missouri but with the landslide size of the thing.
-
Our View: Are school loans next 'debt bomb'?
The late American middle class struggled for decades to keep pace with an American dream slipping from its grasp.
-
Our View: A better way of limit terms
A Missouri House committee on Tuesday endorsed a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow lawmakers to serve 16 years in the state Legislature, either the House or the Senate.
-
Your View: Is it our fault?
When did coveting things and money take over character? What happened?
-
Your View: No way to run a school
All throughout the state of Missouri, you’ll hear much discussion about teacher tenure and the indefinite contracts that go along with that. Most — if not nearly all — jobs in the private and public sectors have no such career protection.
-
Your View: Prime suspects
If it’s too cool in the house, you can turn up the heat if you think you can afford it.
-
Our View: Worldwide concern
There is growing concern worldwide that Israel might launch an attack on Iranian nuclear plants.
-
Other Views: FAA deal up in air five years
The Federal Aviation Administration bill was delayed 23 times, but the agency finally has a law giving it $63 billion and full operating authority for the next four years.
-
Don Ray, columnist: Obama's pipeline excuse an election-year cop-out
On Jan. 18, President Barack Obama announced he was rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline project — a project that had its beginnings some 40 months ago (September 2008).
-
James Whitford, guest columnist: Broken people or broken system?
Are the people broken or is the system broken? If you walk into Watered Gardens, our rescue mission, it may seem the people are broken. But it’s a rescue mission. It just feels that way. And sometimes, it just looks that way.
- More Opinion Headlines
-
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria
Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC
Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion'
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
