The Constitution: Death by Firing Squad (04/11/2015)
So Utah now has a backup plan for killing death row inmates, joining several other states, in seeing that justice is done. I used to be a proponent for the death penalty, but given my recent experiences on local and federal court, count me out.
After hearing a retired judge and two attorneys tell my friend that, “It’s not about the truth,” and “The truth doesn’t matter,” my already low opinion of the justice system reached rock bottom. There are two justice systems; one for the rich, and one for everyone else. Unfortunately, you get the justice you can afford.
Do I believe that the jails are full of innocent people? No, but given my experience, as a former law enforcement officer and recently in court, there are more than we would want to admit. A nation that was built on laws and protecting the rights of the weak cannot survive for long when justice is not served equally.
Killing someone may make us feel better, but it also lowers our value as human beings. If strapping someone to a chair and shooting them is not a violation of the 8th Amendment, then nothing would be, and we have become the very barbarians we seek to protect ourselves from.
So Utah now has a backup plan for killing death row inmates, joining several other states, in seeing that justice is done. I used to be a proponent for the death penalty, but given my recent experiences on local and federal court, count me out.
After hearing a retired judge and two attorneys tell my friend that, “It’s not about the truth,” and “The truth doesn’t matter,” my already low opinion of the justice system reached rock bottom. There are two justice systems; one for the rich, and one for everyone else. Unfortunately, you get the justice you can afford.
Do I believe that the jails are full of innocent people? No, but given my experience, as a former law enforcement officer and recently in court, there are more than we would want to admit. A nation that was built on laws and protecting the rights of the weak cannot survive for long when justice is not served equally.
Killing someone may make us feel better, but it also lowers our value as human beings. If strapping someone to a chair and shooting them is not a violation of the 8th Amendment, then nothing would be, and we have become the very barbarians we seek to protect ourselves from.
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