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This one really hit me: > The act I committed to put me here was not just heinous, it was senseless. But the person that committed that act is no longer here -

This one really hit me: > The act I committed to put me here was not just heinous, it was senseless. But the person that committed that act is no longer here - I am. I'm not going to struggle physically against any restraints. I'm not going to shout, use profanity or make idle threats. Understand though that I'm not only upset, but I'm saddened by what is happening here tonight. I'm not only saddened, but disappointed that a system that is supposed to protect and uphold what is just and right can be so much like me when I made the same shameful mistake. If someone tried to dispose of everyone here for participating in this killing, I'd scream a resounding, "No." I'd tell them to give them all the gift that they would not give me...and that's to give them all a second chance. I'm sorry that I am here. I'm sorry that you're all here. I'm sorry that John Luttig died. And I'm sorry that it was something in me that caused all of this to happen to begin with. Tonight we tell the world that there are no second chances in the eyes of justice...Tonight, we tell our children that in some instances, in some cases, killing is right. This conflict hurts us all, there are no SIDES. The people who support this proceeding think this is justice. The people that think that I should live think that is justice. As difficult as it may seem, this is a clash of ideals, with both parties committed to what they feel is right. But who's wrong if in the end we're all victims? In my heart, I have to believe that there is a peaceful compromise to our ideals. I don't mind if there are none for me, as long as there are for those who are yet to come. There are a lot of men like me on death row - good men - who fell to the same misguided emotions, but may not have recovered as I have. Give those men a chance to do what's right. Give them a chance to undo their wrongs. A lot of them want to fix the mess they started, but don't know how. The problem is not in that people aren't willing to help them find out, but in the system telling them it won't matter anyway. No one wins tonight. No one gets closure. No one walks away victorious. http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/death_row/dr_info/beazleynapoleonlast.html http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/death_row/dr_info/beazleynapoleo...

josai 12y ago
Man. Thanks for posting that. That hits hard. > Tonight, we tell our children that in some instances, in some cases, killing is right. > a system that is supposed to protect and uphold what is just and right can be so much like me when I made the same shameful mistake.
- thesis 12y ago
  And on the flip side... If you let your emotions get the better of you one time, there's always 2nd chance. Which lesson should be taught to kids?
  - freerobby 12y ago
    A second chance to live out the rest of your days in prison. Yeah, I can live with that.
  - lotsofmangos 12y ago
    Redemption.
    - happyscrappy 12y ago
      When does Breivik get released?
      - lotsofmangos 12y ago
        Brevik is complaining about his video games not being recent enough. He doesn't seem interested in redemption. But while he is alive there is nevertheless the possibility, however slim.
  - justizin 12y ago
    obviously that sometimes killing is right, that vengeance is above justice, and if you don't eat your fucking peas, we'll kill you, too, kid.
  - flexie 12y ago
    How about doing like the Norwegians: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18135537 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18135537 Their kids (have been taught to) kill less than kids in any American state. EDIT: Don't know why I can't reply to any post, but the Norwegians actually have a diversity not that much unlike the US (15 percent immigrants / children of immigrants): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_to_Norway http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_to_Norway
adamio 12y ago
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon_Beazley http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon_Beazley Crime committed age 17, executed at 25
- aet 12y ago
  Interesting from Wiki: victim was the father of a Federal Judge, J. Michael Luttig. During his appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court, three of the nine justices recused themselves because of their personal ties to Judge Luttig, leaving six justices to review the case. Justice Antonin Scalia recused himself because Luttig had clerked for him, while Justices David Souter and Clarence Thomas recused themselves from the decision because Luttig had led the George H. W. Bush Administration's successful effort to gain U.S. Senate confirmation for them to the Supreme Court
rorrr 12y ago
> Give them a chance to undo their wrongs Unless you can raise the dead, I don't think there's much you can "undo".
drzaiusapelord 12y ago
>But the person that committed that act is no longer here and if this man wasn't caught and put in prison he would have still been here and victimized others. Look at Chicago's overly liberal justice system and how many of the shootings on the south and west sides are often from repeat offenders given slaps on the wrist for previous serious crimes. When you realize there's no real consequences to your actions then shooting up a street corner for 'cred' becomes a social norm. While I believe its impossible to fairly administer the death penalty, I do believe it makes the world a safer place. From a practical pov, life is prison does the same thing, so I'm okay with getting rid of it. I think harsher sentences for violent crimes need to be in place and softer for non-violent crimes (drug use, possession, dealing). Also, the cult of worshiping and pitying criminals is out of control. Not one mention of the victims, their names, how they spend their last minutes on earth, etc. We know all the criminals and treat them as borderline celebrities but are quick to toss the victims down the memory hole. I imagine the 'fame' aspect to serious crime is a motivator that only guarantees more crime.
- yawboakye 12y ago
  So you think the error margin of executing the death penalty (and justice in general) can be overlooked with impunity? When one man is being murdered for a purported crime of murder—the gravest crime of the land—doesn't a mistake lead to another crime for which the criminal (this time the judges) should be equally held accountable? But the judge is allowed to prescribe death for all sorts of persons, and goes unpunished (by death) if they made a wicked mistake. It is for this probable mistake in enacting justice that makes the death penalty really spurious. You could kill an innocent man for no reason at all.

josai 12y ago

Man. Thanks for posting that. That hits hard. > Tonight, we tell our children that in some instances, in some cases, killing is right. > a system that is supposed to protect and uphold what is just and right can be so much like me when I made the same shameful mistake.

thesis 12y ago
And on the flip side... If you let your emotions get the better of you one time, there's always 2nd chance. Which lesson should be taught to kids?
- freerobby 12y ago
  A second chance to live out the rest of your days in prison. Yeah, I can live with that.
- lotsofmangos 12y ago
  Redemption.
  - happyscrappy 12y ago
    When does Breivik get released?
    - lotsofmangos 12y ago
      Brevik is complaining about his video games not being recent enough. He doesn't seem interested in redemption. But while he is alive there is nevertheless the possibility, however slim.
- justizin 12y ago
  obviously that sometimes killing is right, that vengeance is above justice, and if you don't eat your fucking peas, we'll kill you, too, kid.
- flexie 12y ago
  How about doing like the Norwegians: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18135537 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18135537 Their kids (have been taught to) kill less than kids in any American state. EDIT: Don't know why I can't reply to any post, but the Norwegians actually have a diversity not that much unlike the US (15 percent immigrants / children of immigrants): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_to_Norway http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_to_Norway

adamio 12y ago

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon_Beazley http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon_Beazley Crime committed age 17, executed at 25

aet 12y ago
Interesting from Wiki: victim was the father of a Federal Judge, J. Michael Luttig. During his appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court, three of the nine justices recused themselves because of their personal ties to Judge Luttig, leaving six justices to review the case. Justice Antonin Scalia recused himself because Luttig had clerked for him, while Justices David Souter and Clarence Thomas recused themselves from the decision because Luttig had led the George H. W. Bush Administration's successful effort to gain U.S. Senate confirmation for them to the Supreme Court

rorrr 12y ago

> Give them a chance to undo their wrongs Unless you can raise the dead, I don't think there's much you can "undo".

drzaiusapelord 12y ago

>But the person that committed that act is no longer here and if this man wasn't caught and put in prison he would have still been here and victimized others. Look at Chicago's overly liberal justice system and how many of the shootings on the south and west sides are often from repeat offenders given slaps on the wrist for previous serious crimes. When you realize there's no real consequences to your actions then shooting up a street corner for 'cred' becomes a social norm. While I believe its impossible to fairly administer the death penalty, I do believe it makes the world a safer place. From a practical pov, life is prison does the same thing, so I'm okay with getting rid of it. I think harsher sentences for violent crimes need to be in place and softer for non-violent crimes (drug use, possession, dealing). Also, the cult of worshiping and pitying criminals is out of control. Not one mention of the victims, their names, how they spend their last minutes on earth, etc. We know all the criminals and treat them as borderline celebrities but are quick to toss the victims down the memory hole. I imagine the 'fame' aspect to serious crime is a motivator that only guarantees more crime.

yawboakye 12y ago
So you think the error margin of executing the death penalty (and justice in general) can be overlooked with impunity? When one man is being murdered for a purported crime of murder—the gravest crime of the land—doesn't a mistake lead to another crime for which the criminal (this time the judges) should be equally held accountable? But the judge is allowed to prescribe death for all sorts of persons, and goes unpunished (by death) if they made a wicked mistake. It is for this probable mistake in enacting justice that makes the death penalty really spurious. You could kill an innocent man for no reason at all.