How about I start with the execution of Troy Davis eight days ago? Despite ample evidence that put Troy’s guilt in doubt–for example, the recanting of 7 or the 9 witnesses (and one of the two who did not recant, most likely is the real killer), no weapon, no DNA evidence, nothing but eye-witnesses to link Davis to the shooting, the state of Georgia dug in, despite last-minute delays, went ahead and took this man’s life. When is this country going to catch up with the rest of the industrialized world and put an end to this medieval, brutal, and immoral–and irreversible–punishment?
In the last ten years, most because of DNA testing, 138 death-row inmates have been EXONERATED–proven not to be guilty–and have walked out of prison after serving long–sometimes decades-long-sentences under wrongful convictions. And why doesn’t every death-row inmate get DNA testing? Because district attorney offices don’t want to have a record of wrongful convictions and reversals on their record. That’s right. Because unless new evidence in decades-old cases can be brought to light, these inmates cannot get DNA testing to prove their innocence.
And yet, something sick and mean and vengeful ticks away in the hearts of some people in this country–and I don’t mean honest people who believe–wrongly–that putting an inmate to death deters crime (it doesn’t) or that executions of killers brings “closure” to victims’ families (it doesn’t, in the majority of cases) or that an eye-for-an-eye is a moral justification for killing those who have committed heinous crimes (killing another human being is ever moral?). And, of course, executions cost the state more than housing a prisoner for life.
No, I’m talking about the people who glorify executions. Who celebrate them. When Texas governor Rick Perry recently stated in a Republican debate that under his watch, Texas has executed 134 (now 136) prisoners, the audience erupted in applause and shouts of approval. Not a good moment for this country. Not a good moment just weeks before the execution of a man, Troy Davis, who very likely was innocent of the crime for which he was wrongly convicted.
The Innocence Project, led by Barry Sheck, has proven something like 45 inmates not guilty of the crimes they’ve been wrongly convicted for. Another hero in this battle to exonerate the wrongly convicted is Jim McClosky of Centurian Ministries. I wrote an article about Jim in 2009–here’s the link:
Click to access 3-cm-he-helps-innocent-prisoners.pdf
According to Amnesty International, 137 countries have abolished the death penalty. Argentina, Chile, and Uzbekistan outlawed the death penalty in 2008. During 2007, 24 countries, 88% in China, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United States alone, executed 1,252 people compared to 1,591 in 2006. Nearly 3,350 people were sentenced to death in 51 countries. More than 20,000 prisoners are on death row across the world.
I would love to hear any legitimate reason for maintaining the death penalty in this country–or anywhere. Any reason that outweighs the possibility of another innocent man or woman being put to death. And for my money, any reason that outweighs the enlightened view that killing to show that killing is wrong–I really want to hear that reason. Life in prison without possibility of parole? That is possible and viable and just. Because having worked in prisons as a chaplain, I can tell you, life in prison is not a gift.
And as we think through this issue, here’s a lovely video–boosted just this morning from Bob Cesca’s Awesome Blog in tribute to R.E.M., who has announced that the band is breaking up after all these years (1980 -2011). Please enjoy THURSDAY’S “WHERE DO I BEGIN?” video postcard:
NOTREADYTOFOLD 
