Death penalty is justice, should be faster
The death penalty is a very complex issue involving morals, religious and individual philosophies, including issues of justice. However, I believe we have monsters in society who do indeed deserve the death penalty.
In 1999, Clayton Lockett kidnapped, beat, raped and shot a 19-year-old female twice with a shotgun and had her buried while she was still alive. I remember this execution because it received a lot of publicity in 2014. It was a botched lethal injection execution. After the injections, Lockett clung to life, appearing to suffer for about 43 minutes. Friends of the victim's family said, "His little 30 minutes of lying in anguish, if he was even feeling anguish for 30 minutes, does not compare at all to anything Stephanie went through or her family." Lockett's execution got me thinking about the death penalty and the heinous crimes committed against society, which in most cases are against children, teens and women.
Other than family members and friends, who cried for Stephanie and the other victims like her? I know I didn't. However, many expressed their outrage over the possible pain and suffering Lockett may have experienced.
Over the years I have heard arguments from those who oppose the death penalty. Many include an eye for an eye makes us all blind; another death won't bring back a life; and violence begets violence. The death penalty is archaic and is revenge. Also, the cost of keeping a death row inmate is much more expensive than life in prison.
Yes, I have no doubt the victim's family members and friends want revenge against the monster who has raped and strangled a child. In those circumstances I think I would have those same feelings. However, the death penalty is not about getting revenge or violence. It's about justice and the just consequence of someone's actions. Cost should not be a factor when it comes to upholding justice. Depending on the state, costs to keep life without parole range from $31,000 to $60,000 per year. Justice for All estimates that life without parole cases cost $1.2 million to $3.6 million more than equivalent death penalty cases.
Our society as a whole supports the death penalty. In 2007, the Washington Post reported that 18 states no longer practice the death penalty. CNN reported in February of this year that we have 62 inmates who await execution. Considering that we have a population of 321.4 million as of 2015, and 2.3 million incarcerated in 2017, it doesn't seem like we're rushing to execute anyone.
An argument I have against the death penalty is the length of time an inmate is on death row. The process should be limited to two years. Within the two years all appeals should be made and DNA tests done if possible to prove or disprove the innocence of an inmate. Justice needs to be quicker because it doesn't appear that justice is served when a sentence is finally carried out 15 to 20 years later. Then, the death penalty does seem ridiculous and archaic.
Terry Stewart
Springdale
Kudos for workers cleaning up the trails
Special thanks to the trail crews and community service workers in Springdale who responded to clean up the flooded section of the Razorback Regional Greenway along Spring Creek.
Their timely and diligent response following the storms ensured the community continued access to the trail. We appreciate their hard work to maintain the investment in the trail system.
Kathleen Barta
Springdale
Commentary on 05/08/2017