Church shooting gives victim pause on death penalty.

[gatorboy]

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/jul/30/church-shooting-gives-victim-pause-death-penalty/

Three days after being shot at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, Joe Barnhart's stance on capital punishment has weakened.

Barnhart - struck in the back by at least 20 pellets - had previously been a supporter of the death penalty.

But the injury to three of his family members, and the death of Linda Kraeger, a close friend with whom he co-authored books, has put doubt in his mind.

Kraeger, 61, opposed the death penalty. Now, Barnhart is recalling his friend's moral argument against the death penalty, and he's not sure he can support it.

[beyurslf]

1. I think anyone who is close to a person who is murdered is going to have a hard time saying

that the killer doesn't deserve the death penalty. If someone killed one of my family members, I think I would be willing to throw the switch or stick in the needle myself. But punishment is not intended (and should not be intended) to make the victims feel better. Yes. I would want to inflict extreme pain on someone who took my loved from me. Nothing would ever change that--even after I had inflicted that person with great pain.

[Ghost in the Machine]

3. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but isn't he saying he doesn't think he can support the DP anymore?

Barnhart - struck in the back by at least 20 pellets - had previously been a supporter of the death penalty.

But the injury to three of his family members, and the death of Linda Kraeger, a close friend with whom he co-authored books, has put doubt in his mind.

Kraeger, 61, opposed the death penalty. Now, Barnhart is recalling his friend's moral argument against the death penalty, and he's not sure he can support it.

"She might be right," Barnhart said of Kraeger's opposition to capital punishment. But the gunman "should never see the light of day."


:shrug:

[pitohui]

4. he wants to respect his friend's beliefs and it's so hard

as the other poster said, asking him this question so soon after the murder is just cruel on the part of some jerky reporter

[Junkdrawer]

2. Asking someone about their opinion on the Death Penalty THREE DAYS..

after they're shot while watching their best friend murdered is cruel and just plain tacky.