To the editor:

In Andy Gonzales’ column, “Jesus was all about the death penalty,” he argues that “criminals deserve what they reap.” Gonzales pleads that the death penalty is the only justification to family whose innocent family members have been, in some cases, savagely murdered.

Recently, newspapers have been covering Illinois’ move to ban the death penalty. Governor George Ryan banned executions because of cases in which innocent people have been scheduled for execution only to be proven innocent while on death row.

This event has sparked a new flood of death penalty articles around the nation. Gonzales makes his case for the death penalty by comparing recent events, but he detracts from his argument by using biblical references.

Gonzales singles out Christians as major opponents to the death penalty. He weakens a valid argument by using a controversial record book, the bible, as a reference in supporting the death penalty because the author is assuming everyone believes the Bible is a legitimate record.

Many people become immediately defensive when religious documents are used as a point of reference. Another problem with his approach is the fact that few people, believers or not, are knowledgeable about the contents of the Bible.

The Bible is an extensive document; thousands of different views and interpretations of the Bible have developed over the years.

Gonzales makes reference to three different cases in which one cannot help but support the death penalty.

The first example is the tragic story of a black man from Jasper, Texas, who was viciously beaten and then dragged to death behind a vehicle.

Another instance is that of a woman from Texas who “brutally executed her fourth and fifth husbands in Mafia-style manners.”

And finally, in the case where a man stole a vehicle and dragged a child six miles to his gruesome death, Gonzales asks the question, “Should he be charged with carjacking or first degree murder?”

These people have maliciously killed, yet there is still argument that people like this should be saved from a deserving death. Pretend that one of those killers took someone dear to you.

Our society has been blinded to the harshness of premeditated murder. People are so used to hearing of death and violence they have no empathy.

Whether these criminals are in jail or not, their existence is parasitic. Death penalty protesters may not be able to deny that psychos should be terminated, but they can still argue there is the possibility of innocent lives being taken on death row.

Over-turned convictions only prove our judicial system’s checks and balances are adequate and effective. More innocent lives can be saved by capital punishment than lost.

Shay Robbins

Freshman

Horticulture