Scholars, politicians and regular citizens have debated its merits and detractions over the years. Capital punishment, or the death penalty, generally prompts one to form an opinion one way or another. The polarized opinions on the topic are as divergent and diametrically opposed as the pro-life and pro-choice stances taken on the abortion issue; a simple "yes" or "no" clearly acknowledges your posture on such a controversial topic. But I seemed to vacillate on mine.
My personal dilemma on the matter first traversed the path of pure vengeance: the old eye for an eye mentality. It dictated those perpetrating the ultimate violence on the innocent would pay in kind, as society could extract its rightful payment in flesh. After reading a story about the death penalty meted out against a criminal for an unspeakable crime, I would peruse the comments posted by other readers on their reactions to the sentencing. Some were superfluous, cyber-graffiti if you will; some merely expounded rhetoric in a forum because they were able to do so.
And then there were those that meandered down that other path, favoring the preservation of those criminal’s lives. These presented viewpoints that were more bothersome to my beliefs, and gave pause to what I thought was my firm conviction favoring the state's right to execute criminals. They were inconvenient, forcing me to re-think my stance; causing hair-line fissures to slowly snake their way through my smug logic. One such comment on justice for convicted murderers I pondered for weeks. It eventually caused an epiphany and swayed me to where my opinion stands today.This solution is definitely not complicated, it should pass the scrutiny of our esteemed Supreme Court and I believe it satisfies the urge for retribution while simultaneously retaining at least a semblance of compassion for this asocial part of society...at least for me. Picture the following...
It's hot, unspeakably hot; summer never seemed so malevolent. In turn, each of the three shackled prisoners wipe their brows with the sleeves of their shirts. But their efforts are futile; sweat immediately reforms on foreheads as the merciless sun seemingly increases in intensity. The lone armed guard watching their movements does not share in his charges' discomfort as he sips a cool drink in his dark-glassed, air-conditioned station 50 yards away. He is ever-diligent, but knows the proximity sensors the convicted murderers wear on their ankles would emit an ear piercing howl if they somehow became untethered from their current position and ventured ten yards in any direction. Seeing the prisoners stop, the guard hefts his rifle, leans forward, switches the loudspeaker on and warns the criminals to return to work or they will be placed on the prison's severe ration diet of bread and water. Shoulders slumped, rakes and shovels are picked up and the reluctant trio resumes their endless grounds keeping duties.
Cruel and unusual? Just consider...how many of us work on lawns and gardens in the summer in sweltering heat? Or shovel/plow snow in the winter? Or mop floors, install fencing, prepare meals or perform countless other labor intensive jobs during the course of a day? Granted, most of us don't perform our household or employment duties under the surveillance of an armed guard, but most of us haven't killed another human being in cold blood, either. Why is hard, manual labor considered cruel and unusual punishment when millions of Americans perform similar functions every day?
Think about it. Millions of dollars are spent on death penalty appeals...where does that money come from? Prisoners receive free clothing, room and board, medical coverage and sit on their collective asses all day while we work to support THEM. Offended by the crass terminology just used to denote the posterior of the human body? Save your outrage for the criminals that have murdered innocent victims. While you work every day to support them with your tax dollars, THEY are permitted to watch cable TV, read, work out or, if the notion prompts, do nothing at all. But no matter what THEY do, their lodging, meals and medical attention is guaranteed. Some deal, eh?
We have heard that people are put to death after advances in science or additional evidence is discovered that would have proved their innocence. Such mistakes would not happen under a penal code that requires hard work but no longer the death penalty.
The move to hard labor for convicted murderers, instead of being subject to the death penalty, certainly won't bring back the victims of such heinous crimes. But it can show their surviving family, friends, acquaintances and society in general that the perpetrators of such crimes will be working their collective asses off for years to come as payment for their offenses.
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