I wanted to add to Jenn's comment. I am a certified "bleeding heart" liberal. I believe that there are many falsely accused and convicted people who sit on death row, and even die, for crimes they did not commit. However, I also know that there are people on Death Row who have surpassed their time to breathe the same air as everyone else. I think that the majority of the people who are truly passionate about this issue or those of us who have been affected directly by a crime, whether you are the family of a victim of a crime, or the family of someone who was falsely accused or are involved in the justice system. However, I'd have to say that if you are the family of someone who admittedly committed a crime deserving of corporal punishment, any passion you may have on this issue is meaningless. I know that you can only control your own actions, and I am in no way blaming any one for something someone in their family may have done, but I feel they get no say on this argument.
Audrey Gygi happens to have been my grandmother. When Frank Walls took her from our family I was in 5th grade in the same classroom as Walls' little brother. I couldn't NOT think about what happened every day because his brother looked so similar to him. As an adult (he has been on Death Row for over 20 years now), I have contacted everyone I could in our government trying to get an execution date set for this piece of trash. Hell, I'll push the needle, pull the switch, whatever method needed to get the job done myself if necessary. But what really angers me are his little helpers. I think that anyone who helps people like Walls by becoming their pen pals, or buying their so called art deserves a special place in hell next to their killer buddy for helping them live a happy existence after they have robbed others of living a happy life. Anyone who contributes to the fame of someone who only deserves to have infamy, is only encouraging others to follow in their footsteps. Instead, how about contributing to memorial funds for their victims, or talking to family members forced to live without their loved ones? There are plenty of people who aren't in prison for murder or rape who could use a pen pal or someone to talk to. There are plenty of starving artists who have never received so much as a speeding ticket who would love to have you purchase their artwork. Why support monsters when you can support honest human beings?
My little sister who was names after my grandma never got to meet her, because she was born 2 years after grandma's murder. I was hoping that before she got to 5th grade herself this chapter of our family history would have some sort of closure. Now she's 20 and pregnant herself. I am left to hope that before my children or her unborn child have children Walls will get what he has deserved for over 20 years.
Jen (the other one)

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jenn,
thank you for sharing with me about your aunt. it is horrible and was very difficult to read and still is bouncing in my mind in so many ways: i cannot imagine how you and your family got thru that time and still today i imagine it is so very difficult. the fact that the monster has his life still makes me see red. yes, he would be a very good candidate for my punishment for such a crime....and again, the animals, who are so very innocent would not be subjected to such painful testing...i would really like to give the monster that took you aunt from you a glass of draino, so the docs know what might help a person in such a case....and if he suffers and dies....the punishment should fit the crime, plus thus giving back a tiny piece to society....really i am so sorry you have to live with such pain and loss.
i would like to hear back from you again.
thanks,
JC

OK...I'm going to keep this simple and from my heart.

Animals were put here to be our buddies...It was the sin in this world that corrupted everything.

Capital Punishment...You shall reap what you have sown.

I love this topic! And there aren't many people willing to discuss this or the other "off limits" subject of abortion.

I know I'm a bit late in answering this question, but I saw your subjectline and had to leave a comment.

I used to believe that Capital Punishment is wrong. Let them sit in jail and be miserable

Then, I thought that, much like another comment you have, the family of the victem should be able to have a set amount of time to spend the killer. To show pictures, videos, memories, etc. and then to do with the killer as they pleased.

Then, my aunt was murdered. By Frank Walls, a serial killer in North Florida. You can look at his website via CCADP - my new enemy. Audrey Gygi was the type of woman that would stand up for you - she always made sure that people in and outside of our family was as fair as situations allowed. To unto others - was her favorite verse, the Serenety Prayer was her favorite prayer which she quoted often. She could stop traffic with a look she would give a misbehaving child. And we all loved her. We are all better people and adults because of her wisdom and light.

Frank Walls killed others - no reason for it - maybe he got bored. I remember sitting in the trial and he said that Aunt Audrey was humming a song in the shower that he didn't like. When she got out, she was surprised by Frank Walls. She didn't know him, they had never met. None of us knew him. He said that she was on her knees begging for her life - begging him not to take her from her husband and children - and then she was stabbed 42 times. All because some stranger walked into her home while she was humming a song in the shower that he didn't like. He couldn't even remember what song it was. I bet I can guess - it was made up. She would make silly rhymes and poems and songs for us when we were young. She was really orignal.

He recieved life sentences for some of his murders, and for a precious few, he recieved the death penalty. That was almost 2 decades ago - he's still on death row. He has had so many more opportunities than I could ever hope to have, simply because he took the lives of many wonderful people.

He has a secure job in the prison library, he's earned his BA, he has basketball courts, weightlifting rooms, and time to roam the fields outside - but he's gained 70 pounds since he's been there because he chooses not to. He has an art studio that he likes to work in - he writes poetry - he has a website. He is guaranteed a place to sleep at night, his own space, and three square meals a day. Free dental, medical care. The Canadian Coalition Against the Death Penalty has paid for his expensive lawyers, numerous appeals, and Lord only knows whatever else. He is comfortable, content. He writes letters to family and friends. He has pen pals, his family comes to visit him, they can hug him, kiss him, touch him, be with him.

My family goes to a gravesite and cries to a headstone, and it's not fair. Aunt Audrey begged for her life, and was denied. He's had 20 years to sit and think about what he's done. I think that is more than enough time for him to contemplate the cruel and thoughtless murders that he has committed and yet to be paid so handsomly for it.

I look forward to the time that they set the date for his execution, I look forward to that closure. As of now I don't feel that Frank Walls is being punished at all, it seems as though he's being rewarded. And it's not fair. And it's not justice.

I'm afraid I have to disagree with you on this one. While I'm against the death penalty, I don't really care for the ideals of revenge and retribution that justify some of these things. That's why early in the war so many people were indifferent to torture - the potential terrorists "deserved" it. The thing is, there have been dozens of death row inmates who were wrongfully killed because DNA testing that wasn't available to them during the appeals process later proved them innocent. Actually, a surprisingly large percentage of these inmates were found to have been wrongfully imprisoned and killed. I don't think I could support any sort of sanctioned cruelty (death penalty, testing, torture, abuse, etc) considering the fact that it might hurt the innocent.

I know you were talking about people who we *know* are guilty. Even then, I think the US needs to set a better example in its legal system than to harm people. From what I understand, spending life in prison does so much to a person that it's torture enough - try to imagine living in a glass box for 23 hours a day with limited or no personal belongings? This is an *extreme* punishment. Is it the right punishment? Absolutely. We have to offer something powerful like life imprisonment as a deterrent, but government sanctioned cruelty (even if we use it against the cruelest of individuals) is counterproductive. I once heard a quote: "We kill people who kill people to enforce that killing people is wrong." I think the same doublethink applies to cruelty, torture, and extreme mistreatment. Testing on people against their will is wrong - once we start making exceptions it can start leading us down a dangerous ethical path.

Great post, though. Got me thinking, which is what I like :)

-Jules

My first year of high school. I walked towards my first class. i was greeted by a door wallpapered with bumper stickers, newspaper clippings, etc. One quote stood out from the rest: "why kill people who kill people to show that killing is wrong?"
Mr. Bario was the most interesting teacher i've ever had. He taught us to reflect, not only to have opinions but to be able to back up our thoughts and ideas with information, he taught us to ask "why?"

Whew!!! (wiping sweat from forehead) Thanks for letting me off the hook on this one.

Washing, Rinsing, Repeating. :D

s.

This medium of communication can be soooo difficult sometimes. There are no subtle body language clues to let you know when something has not been received as you intended it, so you flounder around, trying to find the "right" way to say what's in your heart. Sometimes I wish we could just hit the "delete" button on comments we leave after we have read them and realize that we didn't say what we wanted to say.

I'm going to have one more go at this, before I give up altogether and move on. No feeble attempts at humor, no clever turns of phrase, just what I really think. So here it is:

I am categorically against the use of the death penalty. Putting other people to death, for any reason, is simply just wrong.

Having said that, my earlier comment concerning understanding, and relating to the way Samuel L. Jacksons' character felt concerning the rape of his daughter was absolutely spot on. If that had happened to me, I would have almost surely done something similiar, only I probably would have wanted the bast__ds to suffer a whole lot more.

OK, I'm done now. Sorry for the confusion and any misunderstanding.

Take Care, and Be Well.

Steve

Well, the death penalty eh. For me I think that yes, some of those sick (insert several various forms of profanity in every language including sign here( should be slowly tortured for years until death. For me this mainly involves Rapist, ,olesters, and those of that class. As for the out right assaisins of human life, yes make them pay their debt to society. Use them for such hannis (sp) expeiriments whether it is of the old Nazi tradition (which by the did advance medical science) or in the more "human" but just as equally painful manner.
one sentences sums it up for me, and forgive me ahead of time for my swearing.
DIE YOU SONS OF BITCHES SKUNK FLEA INFESTED SCROTUM SUCKERS!!!

OMG!

I just realized after reading your comment in my space that my meager attempt at humor here was completely and totally inappropriate. I totally should have realized that before opening my big stupid mouth.

I am a complete twit, and I humbly beg your forgiveness if I have offended you in any way.

I now notice, after more reading of comments here, that you apparently have some history relating to this subject which is unknown to me, but which bears very directly on your viewpoint on this subject. I have searched around your whole site (I think - not too comfortable getting around in "Spaces" yet) trying to discover what that history might be, and have concluded that it is not something you wish to share.

Again, my sincerest apologies. I certainly meant no offense.

Steve

I couldn't possibly agree with you more.

I get really, really angry when some bleeding heart type starts going on about the killers "rights". I say they have no rights. They forfeited their human rights the moment they stopped acting like humans. What about the rights of their victims?

In some cultures, the criminal is subject to a penalty exactly the same as that which they perpatrated upon their victim.

So for rapists, for instance, I say put them in a cell with their new fiance' Bubba, who is 6'5" tall and weighs 350lbs, and let Bubba sodomize them for - oh say about 50 years or so.

For murderers, let's let the family and friends of the victim execute them in EXACTLY the same way as the murderer did to the victim.

Now THAT would be justice. I can't help but remember a film I saw once "A Time to Kill" starring Samuel L. Jackson. His actions and attitudes in that role pretty much sum up my feelings on the subject.

Now I know that "Vengance is mine sayeth the Lord" But there is also "The Lord helps he who helps himself"

Nuff said.

WOW! Excellent idea. I never thought of that and I'm glad someone did. Now, if we could just win the Power Ball, and get this into law, how awsome would that be!

Hi Jansie,

I've never thought of that before. What a great idea! Of course, it makes too much sense to actually put it in practice, though. There's a lot of bleeding hearts that would yell about abusing the poor, sick criminals.

Take care,

Janet

~ Nice Space ~ :o)

I'm out walkin the blog and since we were in the neighborhood I thought to stop by your space.

I read your entry for last weeks topic and couldn't agree with you more. Actually, when I read about freeing the animals which are being tested on I thought that's what they should do to this maniacs!

Great minds must think alike. Although my mind is definitely NOT that great anymore with having a two year old.

Don't forget to stop by Tanya's space (spaces.msn.com/members/brag/) on Tuesday to find out the current weeks topic.

~Ciao, Tora!

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