"Punishment!"

Did your parents have a list of things that were not acceptable to do when you were growing up? I don't mean a written list of do's or don'ts'; I mean things that were implied by your Mom or Dad. Disrespect to an elder was on our list; and it was enforced. Lying was on our list; Dad didn't do well with those who chose to lie. There were minor infractions, such as not cleaning your room, or fighting with your siblings (no hitting). Some of the infractions required loss of privileges; some required corporal punishment (Dad seldom used it, but it was his option). We all understood the laws of our home; and the authority my parents wielded in the household. Our grandmother, Nona, acted as our lawyer in some situations, and I am forever grateful for her presence in some situations. I remember her intervening with the plea of "Joey don't hit him!", and my Dad would listen to her. Punishment is something we all face at one time or another during the course of our lives. Sometimes punishment is tempered with mercy, and sometimes it isn't. We have all heard the term "extenuating circumstances" in the commission of a criminal act; and I'm sure that possibility does exist in some situations. Sometimes Nona will step in!

This week in Illinois a bill abolishing the death penalty went to the Governor's desk. I'm a proponent of the death penalty; I believe there are crimes that are so heinous that the forfeiture of the perpetrator's life is merited. Callous crimes perpetrated upon children, premeditated murder for revenge or profit, rape (even if the victim is not killed) all should be considered as possible capitol crime. We have all heard the term "rehabilitate" in terms of prison. I believe we should try to salvage lives when it is appropriate, yet I also believe the "punishment should fit the crime". We seem so committed to the criminals' treatment that we have lost sight of the victim. By eliminating the death penalty, we give criminals a sense of freedom; a cushion of belief that nothing they do will have deadly repercussions. We must remember this is PUNISHMENT for an act that has already been committed; it is a consequence of action. We should not remove this consequence!

In Arizona, there is a young man with a mental disturbance that caused him to commit a heinous and deadly act. Nothing we do to him will bring those lost lives back. He is deranged, he is not a gang member, he is not a MAFIA hit man and he is not a terrorist. This young man needs to be in a secure mental institution for the rest of his natural life. I'm sure he knew what he was doing when he committed his crimes; but he was listening through a clouded mind. Could this have been detected earlier? Nobody really knows for sure what could have been done for him. He doesn't deserve death; he's crazy! He is the exception. "Don't throw out the baby with the bath water", we need not sacrifice proper punishment for the sake of being fashionable.