🚀 go-pugleaf

mikeq@freddy.CNA.TEK.COM (Mike Quigley) writes:

>In article <C0CGA6.CnH@bcstec.ca.boeing.com> robs@bcstec.ca.boeing.com (Robert Sipe) writes:
>>
>>  So what is the general opinion regarding the hanging of Dodd?  Will it

>As noted by one TV reporter, many of those gathered outside the prison
>to SUPPORT THE HANGING where CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTALISTS and RIGHT TO
>LIFERS!

>So much for thou shalt not kill and sanctity of life!

I'm not a CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTALIST or a RIGHT TO LIFER.  However, I don't
see that the issues of capital punishment and abortion have anything to 
do with one another.  Abortion, according to the RIGHT TO LIFERS, is 
murder of an innocent victim.  The key word is "innocent".  Capital 
punishment is reserved for the very worst murders, crimes where the 
murderer has shown "special circumstances" deserving his execution.

I don't equate abortion with murder and I'm often outraged at the force
RIGHT TO LIFERS use to keep women from abortion clinics.  On the other 
hand, what conduct should be expected if you believe that your
government tolerates institutional murder of innocent victims?  What if
it finances the murder of innocent victims?

Given that RIGHT TO LIFERS have suffered major political setbacks in
1992, one might worry about an increase in the amount of violence
directed at abortion clinics.  They've tried to shut them down via
political means, now they may turn to other means.  

Personally, I consider the execution of Westley (there's a "t" in there) A. 
Dodd as "recycling".  People who believe in reincarnation can hope that he 
does better next time around.  People who don't won't have to pay for
his incarceration for 50 or 60 years.  For whatever reason, this person
was defective.  By recyling him, we make sure that he doesn't harm other
people.  And we can hope (though I doubt) that 100% of the money that
would have been spent on his incarceration is given to programs to help
parents and kids.

I see no contradiction between saying "life is precious" and "people who
take life deserve to die".  The difference between somebody killing me
for my wallet or because I cut him off on the freeway and the state
killing him for killing me is so obvious that I find it hard to
comprehend how anyone could equate them.  And that's what most people
believe, too.

Polls of the American public have shown for a number of years that they
favor the death penalty and abortion.  I'm supicious of any poll that
shows "most Washingtonians do NOT favor the execution of prisoner X".
Because of the terrible nature of his crimes and his undoubted guilt,
I'm even more supicious of any poll that claims "most Washingtonians did
NOT favor the execution of Westley A. Dodd".

--
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