The Death Penalty

Four time convicted murderer and Los Angeles 'Crips' Gang Founder Stanley "Tookie" Williams is getting a chance at clemency from California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger - this is not normally considered for other death row inmates. Williams is getting this chance because he has used his twenty five years on death row to change his life and preach to others to stay away from gangs.

Williams is fortunate that he has captured enough attention to become a cause celebre. But every day nameless people are executed - do they deserve to die more that Williams?

Now, let me get this straight - if Williams is saved from an unjust punishment then I'm for it. But then all the campaigners and celebrities in Hollywood then need to fight just as hard for every person on Death Row in the US. And China. And the rest of the world. Maybe then we can start to get rid of the unjust Death Penalty throughout the world.

There can be no justification for delibriately killing another person - I know I couldn't pull the lever to release the gallows, or pour the cyanide into the gas chamber, or pull thr trigger, or stick a needle with seditives and poisons into a living person, knowing that action would end their life.

Something else to get straight is that convicted murderers go to jail - for life. I'm encouraged by British Moors Murderer Ian Brady is so tired of prison life that he wants to die - but is prevented from it. It gets close to the anguish that is caused to the families and friends of his victims.