Skip to main content
Death Penalty Rant
By: Hank Bohannon

Religious people claim that the Bible is the answer book to all of life’s questions, but I think history is a better teacher. If we use history as an example, and if we use history as a guide, there is no compelling argument to advocate any form of capital punishment. Discussing capital punishment is a topic that involves many different aspects, including socio-economic issues as well as race relations, thus such an article can be quite exhaustive, so clearly I am not able to discuss every detail concerning the issue. I only want to discuss a few of the major components.

Some claim that we should still use the Bible’s rule of an eye for an eye. Back in the days when there were no methods of gathering fingerprints, or gathering DNA or gathering blood samples, such a rule seemed necessary to mete out some form of justice. But with such technological advancements, using such a rationale seems highly unsophisticated and determined to not pursue the path that does not lead to intellectual stimulation.

In addition, those who like to use “an eye for an eye” standard are clearly hypocritical. The Bible clearly states that a woman that commits adultery should be stoned on the spot, but oddly enough nobody advocates such a sentence today. Also, the Bible states that a child that disrespects his/her parents should also be stoned. Once again, this practice is not legally or religiously acceptable today. There is no moral or intellectual high ground that the religious people can stand on when it comes to using any sort of religious text as an example of administrating judicial standards.

During the Middle Ages when some peon committed a crime—whether it be a simple theft or a homicide—it was common practice for that person to be swiftly executed and to have that person’s body parts strewn all over the city. The local magistrates wanted to make it clear that crime would not be tolerated. But the odd thing is that there is no evidence that such measures deterred crime. The reason is simple: violence is the father of violence.

Most crimes, especially in regards to homicides, usually happen in the spur of the moment. The parties involved do not stop to think about the ramifications. That is the major reason why capital punishment is not a deterrent to crime. The death penalty is supposed to cause the criminal(s) to stop and think about their actions, but that is clearly not the anatomy of a crime. It is on the same level of thought as saying, “in order to get rid of drunk driving accidents, we will get rid of automobiles.”

In essence, the death penalty is an oversimplified argument used to settle a complicated action

About the author: I like discussing history and politics, and I have a college degree in both. Please visit my site at http://www.xtraxtraxtra.com. Thank you.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Darlie Routier Texas

I was contacted by a penpal of Darlie Routier's who gave me some of the most recent advances in her case to share with you all. I began writing to Darlie in December of 2005 and she is one woman whom I will never understand how she got behind bars. Really. You know what else? With all the information ALREADY out there about this case, in addition to the newly discovered info, I think if you can't see this poor woman's innocence, you may just be an asshole. So many legal flubs, so much question and police innuendo that turned out to be nothing. So many fingers pointed and road blocks thrown up, I am surprised this case isn't used in other countries to point to the clusterfuck we call a justice system.  I believe Darlie could have been released ages ago if the state had done the necessary DNA testing. Sadly, Texas has tried to stop it in every unconstitutional way they could pull out of a bull's ass. BUT- there is hope on the horizon. This from Camp Darlie ...

Heather Birden Connecticut

Holly Aeschlimann Holly Aeschlimann, 19 was murdered in Connecticut in April of 2015. This case is amazingly close to that of Rachel Wade. Holly and her killer, Heather Birden, 20, had a longstanding dislike for each other. Heather had stabbed another girl, a juvenile, once before in 2014. She was  held in Niantic Correctional Facility for next three months before the murder as a result of a violation of her probation, and was then released to an in-patient substance abuse rehabilitation facility. Reports state that Birden asked her boyfriend for his knife and then left his house to find Holly stating "I have to end this tonight." Witnesses say Heather arrived and the two began to fight, ending in Holly being stabbed in the head and neck at a crosswalk outside an apartment complex in Torrington, CT.  Her friends rushed her to the hospital where she died.  Heather was hiding under a vehicle a short distance away and feigned confusion when police found her. She spen...

Brenda Andrew Execution date

     Brenda Andrew is the only woman on Oklahoma death row. She is there for the murder of her husband by her and her boyfriend James Pavatt.      Brenda does not answer letters. It seems she may still have a bit of that pretentious attitude left over from her days as a respected deacons wife. Those days are over, hun.      There is no scheduled execution date for Brenda yet. Oklahoma lists its dates of execution for the prison she is in here .      Every time I read about this case I am utterly amazed at how stupid these two people were. She may as well have advertised their guilt on a billboard in front of the house. Both Andrew's and Pavatt's appeal were systematically denied without comment in 2008. The little Scorned episode "The Sunday School Killers" at the top of this post is about Brenda and James and its only $1.99 so its worth the money. Appearance White Female; 5 ft. 3 in. tall; 110 pounds; Bro...