Executions are sign of a barbaric, lawless country

Texas executed another prisoner today. We have prisons for a reason. Murder by the state is a sin. Almost all civilized countries have banned executions. I believe we are not civilized as longer as we execute our citizens. Some day I pray that we will view executions as we view torture by burning at the stake or being drawn and quartered – ancient barbaric ways that have no place in a civilized world.

There are many reasons to end executions besides the fact that murder is a sin, even by the state. Executions are used a punishment disproportionately for minorities and the poor, which proves our justice system needs reform. Wealthy people are rarely executed. Mass murderers are given life sentences, but the mentally ill are still executed as the man was today in Texas – who was hallucinating and mentally ill. How is it just for one or two states to have huge number of executions while mass murderers in other states get life sentences and murderers who are mentally ill in other states get treatment – denial of equal protection is an issue. Executions with endless appeals are more costly than a life sentence. We have proof of many executions of the innocent who were railroaded and many on death row who have been released after being vindicated. Even a man in prison can contribute to society by educating others who may be released. We do not know why people kill and we need to let our psychiatrists study the mass murderer and understand his mind.