Does the Death Penalty serve justice? No! The Death Penalty is not just about “executions;” it’s about CAPITAL MURDER!

Let’s define capital murder.

CAPITAL MURDER: The knowing and intentional killing of another human being, while in the course of committing another felony.

Now, if you look at the Death Penalty, is it not the knowing and intentional killing of another human being? However, this is just one necessary element of a capital crime. A murder must be committed in conjunction with another felony to even qualify to be capital.

Let’s define the other felony committed during state-sanctioned murder.

TORTURE: To mentally or physically inflict severe pain and suffering; assault.

The latter affects three groups of people:

The victim’s family. They have the right to grieve and want justice. Will murdering the accused and the witness of their “execution” stop the grieving? This is a form of “Psychological Torture.” It’s not just watching the condemned be executed that will torture the mind. It’s looking through the other side of the room and seeing that grieving mother or father witnessing their loved one’s death. That scene will play over and over in the mind in the future. It’s realizing at the moment you see the condemned’s life slip away, that their loved one will not return, and they have played a role in another human’s death. This will psychologically corrupt any sane person’s mind. If the state will allow you to endure this form of torture, do they have your best interest in mind? Who wants to watch another human suffer? Even though some of the family members want to witness the execution, not all can bear watching the taking of a life. That’s one of the reasons these pro-death penalty District Attorneys, activists, etc. step in and coerce the victim’s family members to believe that the Death Penalty “will bring closure” or “justice will be served.” They will even say it’s their right to see the killer die. “Don’t you want to invoke your right?”

Especially when Christmas, birthdays, etc. come around, and you can’t see that happy smile when that one present you bought it opened, or hear that special laugh when those candles are blown out, can the victim’s family really say “justice was served?” The pain of the loved one’s loss and memories will always linger and hurt. The deceased will forever be missed!

What about the condemned’s family? The untalked-about victim! Lord knows what goes through their heads after they’ve watched their loved ones strapped down helpless, then the last “I Love You’s” and “stay strongs,” while the life is sucked out of them in a matter of minutes; murdered! Do they have to be psychologically tortured for the rest of their lives? Their holidays just as gray, no laughter or arguments over the leg or the wing of the turkey! Most families just stop celebrating altogether. The deceased will again forever be missed.

Then we have the condemned. For them it’s so much torture, pressure, and psychological stress, it’s pitiful. You see different men, after becoming friends with them and getting to know them personally, get murdered. The saying, “One day you’re here, the next day you’re gone.” is very true. Think of how this plays in a person’s mind. The condemned think, “There’s no way they’re going to let me go. That man had a whole law firm behind him, and was innocent. I’m going to die!” Then on top of that, dealing with the guards who try to break you mentally, physically, and spiritually. They would say things like, “Sit on your bunk or you don’t eat,” then open your slot for your tray and say, “Come and get it!” Even things like snapping a three-foot long dog leash to your handcuffs so it looks like they’re “walking their dog.” This can have a life-long effect on someone if they are commuted to a life sentence or exonerated.

Imagine this: everybody know what Russian Roulette is? Each appeal process represents an empty chamber in that revolver. Every time an appeal gets turned down it’s just one click closer to death. Once you make it to your fifth and final appeal, you know that bullet is next! Now all you have to hope for his a “misfire!”

Now you have your answer to “What is the Death Penalty?” It’s inhumane and cruel and unusual punishment. It serves no purpose and creates more problems than it solves. There’s no justice! How can you get justice out of murder? You can’t, and doing so out of retaliation is a crime, and just creates more victims. It’s just a never-ending cycle of killing.

America will be a lot better off without it!

THINK ABOUT IT!

Jasiri Kilinda Watu

aka Christopher A. Young