We, the VFFDP, will write a rebuttal
essay to Jesse James DeConto’s article, Death
Penalty: Jesus and Murder Victims' Families [Posted: 02/17/20133:17 am]. We chose to post it today, as on this date, July 23, 2007, was the The Cheshire, Connecticut, home invasion murders. We disagree with almost
everything he said and will like to rebut him with words and statistics.
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The Petit Family
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Our revenge instinct is strong
in the United States. On this issue, we are out of step with our neighbors in
Europe and North America and aligned with repressive governments like China,
North Korea and Muslim nations. (In my view, there's much non-Muslims could
learn from Islam on issues of personal morality and economic justice, but the
death penalty is one of those issues where a faith built on grace and a faith
built on works will struggle for agreement).
REBUTTAL: It is useless to compare
our country with those like China, North Korea and Muslim nations. The U.S.A
only executes people for First-Degree murder and not for corruption or
espionage. You forget that Japan who lives across the Pacific has the death
penalty and they have a low homicide rate. Whenever we mention Islamic
Countries, we do so not because we support sharia law but we support the death
penalty for murder. Although
we do not agree with them in using the death penalty for homosexuals, adultery
and apostate, we support it for murder, rape and terrorism. Personally, the
Islamic countries have lower homicide rates, as they are tough on crime.
In Matthew 5:38-48, Jesus overturns "an eye for
an eye" and demands forgiveness. Absorb violence into yourself, he says.
Hold loosely to material things. Work for terrible bosses and do more than they
ask. Pray for your enemies. Love those whom everyone else hates.
REBUTTAL: DeConto is mixing up the
love and justice of God. He is wrong. He is right to say that God wants us to
love our enemies but what he failed to point out that the role of the
government is different from the role of the citizens. If we and the government
are to turn the other cheek, where will it lead us to if all our criminals,
whether they are murderers or not, go unpunished?
And one thing I learned is
that murder victims' families helped to get it abolished
in Connecticut last year.
They opposed it for two
reasons. (Here's their letter to the CT legislature: VFLetterWSignatures).
First, the appeals process takes too long, so instead of closure, they have to
keep reliving the murder in courtrooms over many years, even decades. Second,
they feel the death penalty, because for a variety of reasons it's only used on
particular kinds of murders, tends to prioritize some victims over others.
"From experience, we can tell you that every murder is heinous, a tragedy
for the lost one's family. The death penalty has the effect of elevating
certain victims' families above others. Connecticut should be better than
that."
REBUTTAL: The Politicians in that
State only listened to Victims’ Families Against The Death Penalty, DeConto,
has forgotten to mention that Criminals sentenced to LWOP will always get a
chance to appeal for parole again and again, just take a look at Charles Manson, who is still alive in prison. If you look at The Eight Executed Terrorists, seven of them were executed less than 8 years after their crimes. Do you notice that the terrorist in Egypt was executed 9
months after being sentenced to death and 1 year and 9 months after the
murders, swift and sure! The problems lie with the appeals process, not
the punishment. Countries like the United Arab Emirates had succeeded in fixing
their Justice System, we rather the State learns from them.
We may not be better than
that, but let us not pretend that Jesus is on our side.
REBUTTAL: Of course, Jesus is on the
side of us, the VFFDP! The blood of the victims of the Cheshire, Connecticut,
home invasion murders and the Sandy Hook Elementary Mass Shooting cries out for
justice. Yet, the State of Connecticut had taken away the ultimate punishment.
As usual, the abolitionists in Connecticut always KEEP SILENT about that two
high profile murders. But, we know that Jesus is watching it and he cares for
the Victims’ Families. The State will answer to him for failing to wipe out
evildoers.
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The victims of the Sandy Hook shooting
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