‘New Wave of Executions’

A quote from editorial states, “It remains immoral for the state to kill someone, no matter how grievous his crime.” It is obvious that the writer has never had someone he loved killed for no reason. He has never tried to understand why an innocent person’s life is gone and the killer is given a chance to live. What is immoral is that these killers serve their sentences and are released to be able to kill again. And even if they didn’t kill again, how many years in prison would be enough to punish him for the life that he so carelessly took? Twenty years? Forty years? Would forty years in prison be fair if the person he killed was one of your family? I doubt that very much. I am sure the writer would argue that the death penalty does not deter crime. However, we have never really had it accurately tested and enforced. One thing remains fact, those who die for their crimes will never be repeat offenders. How can you rehabilitate a person who does not regard human life as precious?

My brother’s life was indeed precious to my parents and all of us who loved him. A little over a year ago, his life was taken violently by a man who had no reason except his own selfish needs to kill him. My brother didn’t ask to be a victim nor did our family, but the killer’s actions have put us in this position. He took a life, purposely without any thought of the consequences. Why does he deserve to live? Didn’t my brother also have a right to live? When the killer took my brother’s life, his right to live ended. The killer has all the choices now, all the rights and everyone making sure that those rights aren’t violated. What about the victim and his rights? He had no choices, no trial, no defense, no appeals, no chances--just death. Who is more immoral?

The State of California gives criminals their day in court and more. Some convicted criminals get 10 years of appeals. That’s 10 years of life. And 10 more years of life than the victim got. My brother and all the other victims had nothing. It’s not revenge. It only makes sense to have the punishment fit the crime. By giving these murderers life in prison, you seem to be saying that their life is worth saving. I ask you for what? The innocent victim cannot be saved, his fate is sealed by these repeat offenders who know they can beat the system and get away with murder. And to make matters worse, they have lots of help in getting short sentences or no sentences.

I ask the writer to consider how he would feel if a brother, daughter, parent or spouse were murdered by someone who had been paroled for another murder because he had served his time? Would you be so generous with that murderer then? Or would you want him punished for taking your loved one’s life in the only way these criminals understand. Until you walk in those shoes, you don’t know for sure what you would answer. And I pray that you never have to find out. When you allow murderers to live, you give every other potential murderer license to take human lives without threat that their own life may also be taken.

JOANN BALDERRAMA

Upland