by Arthur Gibson

Created on: November 21, 2008   Last Updated: April 28, 2012

It is very easy to understand how the families of victims of violent crimes would want to see vengeance extracted against violent criminals. And in most, if not all cases, it is a justifiable expectation. Somewhere and at sometime in our nation's history, we have gotten away from the idea that certain criminals should be put to death. And have decided that it is better to house and feed violent criminals and in some cases even allow them the opportunity to be paroled. In our country today, a life sentence does not necessarily mean the natural life of the criminal. In some cases they could be out of jail in as little as 7 years, free to once again commit a violent crime against an individual or group of people.

Where have we lost our way? In most respects the idea of executing a violent criminal has been taken out of the hands of the community and legislated by the highest courts in the land, who have made it almost impossible for an execution to take place. Rulings by the Supreme Court have severely limited the methods that can be used to execute a criminal by applying very strict and limited methods to take a criminal's life. Thanks to the ACLU and other organizations the definition of what does not constitute "Cruel and Unusual Punishment" have made it ever more expensive to execute someone. Plus, the almost limitless number of appeals a convicted murderer can bring make the idea of justice being served in a timely manner ludicrous.

Our courts and liberal legislators have made the life of the criminal much more valuable than that of his victims. Not only that, but thanks to the ACLU and other groups in many prisons today, the criminals live a better life than that of many law-abiding citizens. Unlike many of our citizens, criminals are assured of 3 meals a day, a warm place to sleep out of the elements, and other amenities. Nowhere in the Constitution does it say that prisoners are to be coddled. Having been convicted of a crime and placed in a prison, the prisoner loses their rights as a citizen. They are no longer guaranteed the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". They are in prison as a result of their actions.

Unlike just 20 years ago prior to the recognition and development of DNA evidence, it is almost certain that individuals convicted of murder or other violent crimes are not innocent. Yes, it could under some circumstances could still happen and that is why we have the appeals process. But, each individual should be allowed a limited number of appeals, not the seemingly endless number they seem to have today. And once the appeals process has run its course, the sentence should be carried out in a timely manner. The victims families and friends have a right to expect that. We should not have convicted murderers sitting on death row for 20 or 30 years. Granted the conditions for death row inmates are not the best; but the fact remains that they are alive and their victims are not!

Individuals who have been given a death sentence should have every reason to believe that the sentence will be carried out. And, yes, some of the now disallowed methods of execution should be brought back into use. Firing squads, and hangings are both cheaper methods of execution which are effective when used properly. Or if those methods are not considered certain enough, then the French have a little invention called the guillotine which never fails to carry out its intended use and takes only seconds to do the deed.

Let "justice be swift" and the "punishment fit the crime"!

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