Alabama will, in all likelihood, execute Christopher T. Johnson on October 20. Johnson has been convicted of a heinous crime – the murder of his son – a six-month old child. My heart breaks for Elias Ocean Johnson and those who love him. Johnson does not deny the crime – published reports indicate that he has admitted that he committed the crime.
Writers describe Johnson as a “volunteer.” He acted as his own attorney and has rejected appeals.
Yet even under these circumstances, I wonder:
What do we gain by Johnson’s execution?
How does it benefit Elias? Or protect other babies from abuse?
Does an execution – any execution – not demean and degrade the State and all of us? What does it say about us? What does it do to our soul?
Does imposing the death penalty – under these circumstances, under any circumstances – not brutalize our society? Is it not an act of vengeance – a denial of the possibility of repentance and renewal?
Does Johnson’s willingness to be executed absolve the state or change the reality of the death penalty?
I wonder . . . but I still oppose this and all executions.
See you along the Trail.
Related articles
- Four on the death penalty (graybeardtrail.wordpress.com)
- Florida firing squads? What has death penalty supporters all riled up? (csmonitor.com)
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