Yesterday, my state put someone to death for a horrific crime. And, yes, it bothered me incredibly.
Juan Carlos Chavez raped and then killed 9 year old Jimmy Ryce. Afterwards, he dismembered the body. By all accounts, it was the most heinous of crimes, and especially offensive to someone such as myself who has two young children. Chavez immediately confessed to the crime and I don't believe he ever recanted.
So why then--amidst all the local news coverage (one local station even ran with the opener "Death of a Monster"
--was I so utterly disgusted at the notion of this execution?
It wasn't out of any sympathy or warm feelings for Chavez himself. Unlike some death penalty cases, there appeared to be no questions about the perpetrator's guilt. Nor was this particular execution extraordinary in its method--accounts were that Chavez did not appear to suffer any visible pain or discomfort during his death.
The fact of the matter is, I don't really know why it bothered me so much. Other than to say that I simply find the mere notion of the death penalty so incredibly and utterly offensive to all my sensibilities. I think part of it stems from the fact that I am a liberal. And therefore I do believe our government has the ability to do good and positive things in the interests of the general welfare of the people. And for the government to engage in the planned killing of a human being, one of its own citizens, who no longer poses any imminent danger to the public (by virtue of his incarceration) just runs so contrary to every single philosophical and moral principle that I hold dear to my heart.
Nothing good can ever come from the death penalty. There is no deterrence, no closure, no further protection, and no justice. Every time we execute someone in this country I fear we lose just a little more of our soul as a nation. I find myself utterly sickened by those who seem to relish in this evil institution. I'm talking about the "hang them high" mindset, the "put them down like a sick animal" people, and the people who think the more gruesome the death or methodology, all the better. And I'm tired of the false sanctimony that they exhibit whenever I challenge the legitimacy of the death penalty, "Why don't you care about the victim or the victim's family?" (As if there was any doubt that any reasonable human being wouldn't have sympathy for such people) Or even worse, the strawman that if you aren't for the death penalty, then it means you favor "coddling" convicted criminals. That people actually think the death penalty constitutes true "justice" will forever irk me.
The death of a human being should never be celebrated, even when that human being has done horrible things. At best in terms of dictators and terrorists, there should be a sense of relief and optimism for the future, but never should we think that killing is a "good" thing to cheer. Killing will always be an evil, even (in the most limited of circumstances) when it is a necessary evil.
Also in my state today, another man--Michael Dunn--awaits a verdict in a murder trial. Having followed the case closely, I believe he is guilty beyond all reasonable doubt of the murder of 18 year old Jordan Davis. And I believe a life prison sentence for Dunn would be appropriate. (Thankfully, this not a death penalty case). I'm thoroughly disgusted at what Dunn did---how he shot into a car at an unarmed teenager, and then casually went back to his hotel afterwards to have some drinks and some dinner.
But as appalled as I am at Dunn's actions, and as fervently as I believe he should be convicted of murder and sent to prison, I find myself somewhat sad at that prospect. Dunn is a father, and he'll likely never see his children or grandchildren again except within the confines of a prison. And objectively speaking, that's a sad thing. Not nearly as sad as Jordan Davis' parents never seeing their son again, ever, but it's still sad. And while Dunn's actions warrant harsh punishment--up to the point where he should never see another day of freedom in his natural life--I see it as no reason to cheer or do victory dances. It's just a sad, sad situation all over. Two lives ruined, and nothing we can do can ever change that.
Justice in this country should never be confused for schadenfreude, whether your name is Juan Carlos Chavez or Michael Dunn. Let's stop pretending that our criminal punishments mean we have defeated evil in this world. And most importantly of all, let us as a society stop killing people and calling it "justice" or "closure."