Should the state respect crime victims wishes?
Jul 26, 2022 15:44:12 #
Terryln Hall was just six years old when her mother, Faith, was fatally shot by a former boyfriend.
Now, nearly 30 years later, Hall and her sister – along with their uncle – oppose Alabama’s plan to execute the man who k**led their mother. Unless a judge or the governor intervenes, Joe Nathan James Jr, 49, will die by lethal injection on Thursday evening at a south Alabama prison.
“We thought about it and prayed about it, and we found it in ourselves to forgive him for what he did. We really wish there was something that we could do to stop it,” Hall said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press.
Should the wishes of the family be respected, or does vengeance belong to the state?
Now, nearly 30 years later, Hall and her sister – along with their uncle – oppose Alabama’s plan to execute the man who k**led their mother. Unless a judge or the governor intervenes, Joe Nathan James Jr, 49, will die by lethal injection on Thursday evening at a south Alabama prison.
“We thought about it and prayed about it, and we found it in ourselves to forgive him for what he did. We really wish there was something that we could do to stop it,” Hall said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press.
Should the wishes of the family be respected, or does vengeance belong to the state?
Jul 26, 2022 16:11:13 #
Kevyn wrote:
Terryln Hall was just six years old when her mothe... (show quote)
Suppose at the trial the victims family wanted the death penalty instead of 20 years in prison. Should they respect that?
Jul 26, 2022 16:12:57 #
Strycker
Loc: The middle of somewhere else.
Kevyn wrote:
Terryln Hall was just six years old when her mothe... (show quote)
Every case is different. However, it is not about vengeance. It is also not just about what the family wishes. It is about a jury that put the personal time and emotions into convicting and sentencing him. It is about a system that allowed him multiple chances and many years to appeal his sentence and insure fair treatment. But, most of all it is about this individual. Has he showed honest remorse? Has he taken what opportunities the last 30 years have offered him to show his life has value beyond what he did? Or has he just showed defiance in the face of his t***sgressions and only fought to save his sorry ass? If he has shown reform and made honest efforts to improve himself and make positive contributions to those around himself, then, by all means commute his sentence. If however, if he has spent the last thirty years only surviving and trying to game the legal system, put the dog to sleep.
Jul 26, 2022 17:59:24 #
Kevyn wrote:
Terryln Hall was just six years old when her mothe... (show quote)
No.
Thirty years too late.
This has nothing to do with vengeance.
Jul 27, 2022 21:04:16 #
Strycker wrote:
Has he showed honest remorse? ...Or has he just showed defiance in the face of his t***sgressions and only fought to save his sorry ass? If he has shown reform and made honest efforts to improve himself and make positive contributions to those around himself, then, by all means commute his sentence. If however, if he has spent the last thirty years only surviving and trying to game the legal system, put the dog to sleep.
Remorse and repentance by the sinner is necessary for forgiveness granted by the victim.
Jul 28, 2022 20:28:33 #
Kevyn wrote:
Terryln Hall was just six years old when her mothe... (show quote)
Vengeance belongs to God.
Justice on earth is carried out by the state. The impact statement doesn't carry enough weight to stop a legal sentence.
It's nice to forgive, and it's God command to us, not government.
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