Death Penalty Creates More Victims

As an advocate fervently opposed to the death penalty and excessive prison sentences, I find myself at a loss for words over the continued execution of individuals. It's a profound sadness that stems from a belief that such acts are not only a sin but fundamentally against God's judgment we are all one day to face. I see a glaring contradiction in the actions of leaders like Governor DeSantis and others who, under the guise of avenging justice, essentially indulge in revenge. This, to me, is a far cry from justice. It's a cycle of wrongs that fails to make anything right. My hope is that one day, they will recognize the gravity of their actions and put an end to this inhumanity.

The plight of those with serious mental illnesses is particularly close to my heart. Their vulnerability is magnified in the face of the death penalty, where their history of abuse, neglect, and trauma—factors that deeply affect their culpability and ability to engage with the legal process—are often overlooked. It's an oversight that reveals a lack of compassion and understanding, and it's time for a change. Leaders like Governor DeSantis and Greg Abbott must acknowledge the humanity in everyone, especially those suffering from mental illness or the scars of trauma and abuse. The death penalty is a barbaric response that we must move beyond, seeking instead solutions that reflect our humanity, not our indifference.

Compassion, empathy, and understanding are what makes us human, and if we cannot feel or express these emotions then we are merely animals. Yes, we can all agree people commit heinous acts, but the act should not define the person. When someone commits a heinous act they are seen as trash, nonhuman, throwaways. and suddenly our empathy and understanding is toggled off. Society is quick to label them as irredeemable, stripping away their humanity and shutting down any avenue for empathy and understanding. But our worth should not be equal to our worst act. Our entire life should not be judged by our worst offense. Our worth cannot be tied solely to our lowest moments.

It is crucial to recognize that individuals who commit crimes often have histories marked by childhood trauma, abuse, and neglect. These experiences can profoundly alter their perception of reality and impair their ability to develop coping mechanisms, due to their vulnerability at a young age. It's essential to delve into the background of these individuals, to understand the suffering, trauma, or abuse they might have faced during their formative years, which could have led them down a path of crime. This perspective not only fosters a more compassionate and empathetic approach but also highlights the importance of addressing the root causes of criminal behavior. Where was the caring, compassion, and support for this individual when they were enduring abuse and trauma? Who stood up for them to halt the actions of their abuser? Who came to their defense when they were the victim? How can one have compassion for one victim and not the other? Every act of violence stems from a root cause, a deeper issue, and it's important that we commit to uncovering and understanding these root causes.

The ripple effects of life imprisonment and the death penalty extend far beyond the individual condemned. Life imprisonment and death penalty sentences create more victims! How so you ask? This is somebody's brother, son, father, uncle or husband. They love this person despite what he's done or what you may think of him, because he's family. When someone is forcibly strapped to a table and poison injected into their veins while others watch and enjoy the act, all in the name of "justice" (aka revenge), it is traumatic not only for the executionee, but for his family members as well. They now become victims. They now have to live the rest of their lives with the image of how their loved one was scared, sad, and suffered a horrible death. They will now forever experience the trauma of envisioning his experience, and will carry this with them for the rest of their lives. A constant reminder of a loved one's final, terrifying moments. They are now themselves victims of this entire experience.

Many offenders have repented and reconciled with God before this point and God has forgiven them, but man still has not. There is rarely any forgiveness from man, because society clings to a misguided belief in cruel and unusual punishment as a form of atonement. And this is how they justify their own heinous, inhumane acts of inflicting more meaningless suffering. The reality of execution—often far from the quick, painless end promised—is a stark testament to the inhumanity of the act.

In addition, the death penalty violates the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. Execution methods, from lethal injection to electrocution frequently involve extended periods of suffering and uncertainty about their reliability or potential complications, raising serious ethical and humanitarian concerns. Additionally, the death penalty's application is marred by systemic biases, including racial and socioeconomic disparities, and the risk of executing innocent people, further highlighting its incompatibility with the principles of fairness and justice embodied in the Eighth Amendment.

The delight some find in another's suffering is incomprehensible to me. It is cruel, inhumane and un-Christian. We are all God's children and called to be like Him, and if we cannot forgive someone then we have failed. We don't have to like what that person has done, nor do we have to fully understand why it happened, but we should try. From an ethical perspective as medical ethicist Dr. Daniel P. Sulmasy, associate director of the University of Chicago’s MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics states, “it is always immoral and inhumane to participate in an execution, even if it’s done painlessly. Our job is to be life-affirming, and participating in an execution is inconsistent with that mission because it ends up making us agents of the state in killing people.”

And you may say, "what about the victim? What about their suffering in all of this? They have to live with the trauma for the rest of their lives, or they had their life taken from them so the perpetrator should not be allowed to live either". No one is trying to mitigate their pain and suffering. Obviously that matters first and foremost. However, rage, revenge, and vengeance-seeking behaviors are animalistic, and do not reverse what happened, thereby challenging the notion that the ends justify the means, as this approach is inherently inhumane. When we succumb to, or partake in these, that makes man no better than a wild animal, devoid of what makes us human; ironically these are the very traits we as a society aim to deter through the implementation of capital punishment and lengthy prison terms. This is then contradictory. There is no denying the suffering of victims and their families is undeniable and profound. Yet, responding with rage and vengeance only perpetuates a cycle of violence, reducing us to our most primal instincts. This is not justice; it's retribution that fails to alter the past or heal the present. It doesn't change the outcome of what happened and two wrongs don't make a right.

The path forward requires a commitment to restorative justice, a willingness to explore the factors leading to criminal behavior, and a rejection of mandated sentences of incarceration for life and execution as solutions. It requires an understanding of why locking someone in a cage or putting them to death is not a solution, nor a deterrent of future crime. It never has been, and never will be. The path forward requires a call to action for all of us to embrace alternatives that truly deter crime and heal our communities. All life matters regardless of past transgressions, and it is our duty as human beings to recognize that.

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