The State of Texas easily has the highest execution rate in the United States. That is part of the reason why you "don't mess with Texas." And why is it exactly that Texas stands alone in implemeting the death penalty? According to Reuters, the answer is evangelical Christians.
In its article "Religion and culture behind Texas execution tally," Reuters states:
Like his predecessor, Governor Perry is a devout Christian, highlighting one key factor in Texas’ enthusiasm for the death penalty that many outsiders find puzzling — the support it gets from conservative evangelical churches.
This is in line with their emphasis on individuals taking responsibility for their own salvation, and they also find justification in scripture.
“A lot of evangelical Protestants not only believe that capital punishment is permissible but that it is demanded by God. And they see sanction for that in the Old Testament especially,” said Matthew Wilson, a political scientist at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
Notice that Matthew Wilson said "they" instead of "we." In true liberal media tradition, Reuters relies upon a college professor to speak as an expert about evangelical Christians.
If the condescension wasn't already apparent, Reuters also blames regular use of the death penalty on "cowboys" and the "racism" prevalent in Texas.
Texas also stands at an unusual geographical and cultural crossroads: part Old South, with its legacy of racism, and part Old West, with a cowboy sense of rough justice.
Some critics say the South can be seen in the racial bias of death sentences with blacks more likely than whites to be condemned — though Texas is not alone on this score.
Over 41 percent of the inmates currently on death row in Texas are black, but they account for only about 12 percent of the state’s population.
In examining these factors, Reuters reaches the conclsuion that:
Texas will almost certainly hit the grim total of 400 executions this month, far ahead of any other state, testament to the influence of the state’s conservative evangelical Christians and its cultural mix of Old South and Wild West.
Note that the article allows for the impression that Texas will execute 400 criminals this month. You have to read further into the article to learn that the figure 400 represents the number of executions since 1982, when the death penalty was re-instituted in Texas.
While the article frames capital punishment in a negative light, Reuters optimistically declares that demographics could reduce the occurrence of the death penalty.
Demographics could help tilt the balance a bit further, as the state’s booming economy attracts outsiders — and potential jury members — from more liberal regions and as its Latino population grows rapidly.
“Demographics could change things as minority groups like Latinos are generally less enthusiastic about the death penalty,” said [Richard] Dieter of the Death Penalty Information Center.
Or in other words ... there's hope that the booming Texas economy will attract enlightened liberals who will eventually outnumber the unenlightened evangelical Christians. And even if that doesn't quite tip the scales, there's always the hope of an influx of Latinos who "are generally less enthusiastic about the death penalty."
In a final failure to grasp the obvious, Reuters states:
The longer trend is a decline of homicides over the past 30 years with a peak of 2,652 in 1991 in Texas and 1,407 in 2005. And fewer murders should translate into fewer death sentences.
Reuters focuses completely on the topic of eliminating the death penalty - instead of nailing the obvious point that homicides have been drastically reduced since Texas re-instituted capital punishment.
—Jason Aslinger is a private practice attorney in Greenville, Ohio.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Non-Believers For the Death Penalty Unite!
August 15, 2007 - 22:53 ET by HeikiTrust me, you don't need to be an Evangelical Christian to be in favor of executing murderers. They are worthless scum and taxes can be better spent than housing them for the rest of their (natural) lives.
It's just abortion of
August 16, 2007 - 12:45 ET by TruthMongerIt's just abortion of psychotic killers...
In addition to abortion the libs also back Dr. Kevorkian's euthanasia. So why are the libs not supporting the death penalty?
Interesting...
TM, I'm against the death
August 16, 2007 - 12:51 ET by LeonTM,
I'm against the death penalty because we have case after case where innocent people have been put to death. We also have cases where mentally disabled people are put to death. In my mind, the death of one innocent person makes the death penalty a bad practice.
As for Kevorkian, this is not even comparable to the death penalty. Kevorkian is a choice. People choose to go to him. (Which to me makes it a-ok. IF you want to kill yourself, go right ahead, it's your life and your right)
Leon, I was under the
August 16, 2007 - 16:10 ET by ErgoDyneLeon,
I was under the impression that there aren't that many cases where an innocent person was executed. Technology is better and people are being exonerated, though the death of one innocent is one death too many.
Although, I find it a bit disconcerting that with all of the appeals and time spent waiting on death row, that an innocent person could not prove themselves innocent. I haven't looked at the data, so I don't know anything for sure.
I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it.
As usual, Leon is engaging in exaggeration.
August 16, 2007 - 17:29 ET by RJ"Case after case?" As usual, Leon is engaging in exaggeration. I suspect he'd have a hard time documenting even one relatively recent case of wrongful execution.
Having said that, I think it's odd that people who distrust "the government" are willing to trust "the government" to get it right every time....and "every time" is a requirement, not a goal.
Over the past couple of years, I've had several heated arguments on NB about this, so I suppose I'll have to be gracious and be glad that Leon has seen it my way....even his language mirrors mine. But, even though he's never made this particular argument before, I'm willing to bet that, in his juvenile way, he'll claim ownership...like he tried to claim ownership of "throwing the bullets at the house" of that Iraqi woman. tdf ;^>
So Leon, and please correct
August 17, 2007 - 11:55 ET by BeowulfSo Leon, and please correct me if I'm reading this wrong, but in your opinion, it's better to let a thousand murderers go than to erroneously put one innocent person to death ?
And shockingly, I tend to agree with you on Kevorkian.
The Closed Mind Erects Strong Barriers
beo -- It's an absolute
August 17, 2007 - 12:13 ET by Jack Bauerbeo -- It's an absolute statistical certainty that every life saving drug that saves millions will kill a small number of those using the same drug.
Should it be banned because we can guarantee that someone somewhere will one day die from it?
Does that mean to prevent that one death, all those other who would be helped must now go without. I don't think so.
Over 41 percent of the
August 15, 2007 - 22:58 ET by MidAmericaOver 41 percent of the inmates currently on death row in Texas are black, but they account for only about 12 percent of the state’s population.
Is it racism or is it because there is a lot of black on black crime?
Reuters didn't find evangelicals in Texas?
August 15, 2007 - 23:14 ET by nkviking75In spite of the fact that a large number of very well known evangelical leaders are based in Texas, Reuters somehow failed to find any. Maybe they were all out of the state at the same time.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
Minnesota is chock full of
August 16, 2007 - 12:48 ET by TruthMongerMinnesota is chock full of evangelicals like me. Billy Graham ran his ministry out of here for 50 years. So why don't we do the death penalty...?
Evangelism has little to do with it...in Texas and anywhere else...
Death Costs More Than Life
August 15, 2007 - 23:17 ET by RiharWhen Jeffrey Dahmer was murdered in prison I was in the car with a friend of mine and we heard it on the radio. He had only been in prison for a short while when Jeffrey got "his".
I looked over to my friend and joked "Now see, THAT didn't cost more than spending the rest of his life in prison." referring to the amount of money it takes to put someone to death as opposed to keeping him there for life.
I don't really know what my point is, I just like that story.
When a liberal speaks, the truth is busy elsewhere.
As a proud Texan, I take
August 15, 2007 - 23:18 ET by RESTLESS 1As a proud Texan, I take pride in the number one ranking in number of executions. My only complaint is that it takes so long for execution to take place. According to the Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice website, prisoners spend 10.26 years on death row before execution. I've heard arguments that it is cheaper to sentence murderers to life in prison than it is to execute them. If this is true, then shortening the appeals process, and the time spent on death row, would probably change this.
Reuters
August 15, 2007 - 23:47 ET by pocomocoWell, well, well, isn’t that special, yet another putdown of the religious by the MSM. Quite frankly, I don’t understand what the MSM gain by alienating the majority of the world population as they do on a regular basis.
I can only surmise that it is because the majority of editorial boards around the world are made up of liberals, atheists, or both.
Liberals and atheists, consider themselves intellectually superior and free thinkers. That being the case religion, because it puts finite restrictions on people, is an abhorrent philosophy in their eyes.
So, as a result, we continue to see these accusatory articles by the MSM which are nothing more than a smokescreen hiding their real feelings of religion.
A warning to the MSM – the religious have long memories.
By the way, how's the circulation of your newspapers and magazines doing?
What they gain
August 16, 2007 - 13:21 ET by mattmThey are gaining the good feeling that goes with smearing Christianity.
Ratings, objectivity and accuracy are of secondary importance to the MSM's ideology - it's religious for them...
again I beg the question -
August 16, 2007 - 13:25 ET by TruthMongeragain I beg the question - the MSM celebrates abortion and euthanasia, but what's the big deal with execution? How do left wing brains work anyways...?
You made a HUGE faux-pas in
August 17, 2007 - 12:05 ET by BeowulfYou made a HUGE faux-pas in your post TM - You put "left-wing", "brains", and "work" all in one sentence. These three words have been determined, by numerous unnamed expert sources, to be mutually exclusive.
The Closed Mind Erects Strong Barriers
"...Texas economy will
August 15, 2007 - 23:50 ET by bassndude"...Texas economy will attract enlightened liberals who will eventually outnumber the unenlightened evangelical Christians." No, not going to happen. Texas is now importing lions and tigers. The tables are turned on those Roman left overs, gonna feed the enlightened liberals to them in Texas Stadium. Seems the Cowboys have to many away games this year.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
Enlightened
August 16, 2007 - 01:32 ET by Seabeach4348Why do some always use the word "enlightened" when they talk about liberals? Do they glow in the dark?
That would also suggest that there are "unenlightened" liberals lurking in our midst as well, right?
On Moscow-on-the-Colorado
August 16, 2007 - 06:55 ET by Unsane"gonna feed the enlightened liberals to them in Texas Stadium"
So, since that will require emptying out the city of Moscow-on-the-Colorado (other people call it Austin) perhaps we can have them "run the gauntlet" all the way up I-35/I-35E?
:-)
Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.
if you really try to answer this you'll pop a major artery
August 16, 2007 - 00:01 ET by lunaticcringeradiowhy is it that liberals approve of aborting an inconvenient innocent "fetus" that had no control of it's actions, but "murdering" a convicted criminal who knowingly and willfully violated an established law is wrong?
i really don't expect a logical answer, i merely posed the question to point out the hipocracy of the liberal stance on both topics.
we should start executing criminals who qualify and say it's "for the children" then liberals will approve.
but only the convenient children that grew up from a fetus.
oh anyone think al gore will write a second book, an inconvenient fetus.
}}---> Why Reuters hates Blacks!
August 16, 2007 - 03:46 ET by Cool ArrowAs I consider Chicago, that baggy pants paradise where Blue Angels fear to tread, I read about the wild west lawlessness of Texas:
Over 41 percent of the inmates currently on death row in Texas are black, but they account for only about 12 percent of the state’s population.
But the Boston Sentinel (8/13/07) says 49% of all murders nationwide involve Black victims. And 93% of these crimes are Black on Black.
So Reuters seems to insist we prosecute crimes against Blacks a little less vigorously than others? Reuters angle is not pretty, keep Black murderers alive so they can be released to kill more Blacks. Reuters is, after all, a German name isn't it?
I'm a Christian and proud Texan.
If Reuters thinks crimes against Blacks should be prosecuted less vigorously than crimes against Whites, then Reuters can take their Nazi, Master Race butts back to the Taliban where it's still alive and well. Where do they get off touting the racist notion that Blacks don't deserve justice for their fallen sons and daughters?
You absolutely cannot responsibly read this leftist drivel from Reuters without considering the ramifications of following their kind suggestions
~LYDSEXICS UNTIE!~
What we need here is more
August 16, 2007 - 05:22 ET by Jack BauerWhat we need here is more diversity and affirmative action in Death Sentence industry. Then we could all just get along.
}}---> Right-e-o Jack
August 16, 2007 - 05:31 ET by Cool ArrowBut we can't even get Sharpton and Jackson involved when Illegal aliens execute Black students in Newark.
Doubtless Al and Jesse are have more concerns over Black "A" students trying to act White with good grades than Illegals doing the jobs Americans won't do.
~LYDSEXICS UNTIE!~
"I'm a Christian and
August 16, 2007 - 21:14 ET by 4arrow"I'm a Christian and proud Texan."
Yes but are Christians and Texans proud of you? ; )
}}---> }}---> }}---> }}---> 4arrow
August 16, 2007 - 21:20 ET by Cool ArrowI can only hope.
~LYDSEXICS UNTIE!~
So executing murderers is
August 16, 2007 - 04:14 ET by rbosqueSo executing murderers is bad, killing innocent babies is OK?
Liberals are nuts.
}}---> Christian Texans
August 16, 2007 - 04:41 ET by Cool ArrowReuters isn't reporting anything new.
Christians are against the taking of innocent lives. Christians believe in punishment for murder. Christians would likely favor "Life sentences" be as advertised rather than 10 year stints.
At Calvary, one of the crucified criminals was forgiven, and the ultimate judge of all men did not allow him to skip out on his duly adjudicated punishment.
Abortion is an argument one can raise during any discussion, but many times it serves no purpose other than to divert discussion from the specific debate.
~LYDSEXICS UNTIE!~
Forgiven, but still cashiered
August 16, 2007 - 05:45 ET by HeikiC.A.,
I remember that passage. Jesus tells the repentant one of the two criminals hanging alongside him that (paraphrasing) ''surely this day you and I shall abide together in paradise'' yet didn't promise him that he would be teleported off the cross to an Undisclosed Location to avoid the fate he brought upon himself. And rightly so. The only dude ''hangin out'' that day who was blameless was the Son of Man, who although he offered absolution to the one repentant of the two criminals, did not offer escape from rightful earthly justice. Whatever one's take on the form of the Maker, the idea that every action has a price or reward logically tends toward the conclusion that the price for the debt incurred in the voluntary taking of a life in the form of murder demands the forfeiture of the killer's life in kind. Not to mention those freed-up funds could be used to shore up aging infrastructure or placed in a trust towards the backing of schools dedicated to learning the nuances necessary to the successful completion of John Edwards' future hairstyling sessions.
''Politicians and Diapers need to be changed frequently, and for the same reasons''. h/t: Bernie Goldberg, author of the recent book Lunatics to My Left, Wimps to My Right
Houston
August 16, 2007 - 07:32 ET by allanfIf the premise is true, why does Harris County (Houston) send so many murderers to death row?
}}---> Hard to say
August 16, 2007 - 07:38 ET by Cool ArrowConsidering Houston is a thriving bastion of flaming liberalism, I don't know.
Maybe the lowly peasants who serve on juries demand justice despite their handlers claim "what's one more dead peasant? We've got a million of them."
~LYDSEXICS UNTIE!~
On Houston not necessarily being Moscow on the Bayou
August 16, 2007 - 08:07 ET by Unsane"Houston is a thriving bastion of flaming liberalism"
Why, thank you for boosting my morale there. Besides, maybe it is my experiences with Austin, but Houston seems positively Right-wing by comparison (though I DO have an idiot representing me in Congress).
Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.
Harris, Dallas and Bexar, oh my!
August 16, 2007 - 08:10 ET by UnsaneIn TX, the DAs are voted on by county. Harris, Dallas and Bexar Counties have all had very pro-death penalty DAs for decades now, hence the long line to say hello to the bye-bye needle at Huntsville.
The people want the death penalty and they get their wish via the aggressive DAs.
Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.
Death Penalty Texas
August 16, 2007 - 07:51 ET by charlietexasTake a look at Mark White's (D)tenure and how many people were put to death when he was governor in 1983.
Also,
Ann Richards had an axe in her office the whole time she was Governor
and expanded the jail population a bunch.....doesn't sound like right
wing evangelists to me.
We are happy that there are fewer bad
guys roaming the state, man or woman. OJ would have already been dead
had he killed Nicole here in Texas.
}}---> not so fast charlie
August 16, 2007 - 07:56 ET by Cool ArrowLet's not forget T. Cullen Davis. Lots of parallels.
~another Texan~
~LYDSEXICS UNTIE!~
On govs
August 16, 2007 - 08:14 ET by UnsaneAnn Richards made a politically fatal error by vetoing concealed handgun legislation (hence I voted for some guy named George W. Bush in 1994, as did millions of others), but she wasn't a complete idiot. She knew that if she turned her back on the death penalty here, she would be politically doomed. (Bush's election in 1994 was by no means a sure thing at the time.)
Note that Mark White and Bill Clements had to have made some serious headway in getting people whacked in order for TX to assume the coveted mantle of "executions leader" in the summer of 1988.
"Flash before my eyes! Now it's time to die!" - Metallica, "Ride The Lightning"
Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.
}}---> Lest we forget
August 16, 2007 - 08:20 ET by Cool ArrowThe sad story of Karla Fay Tucker
Even she couldn't talk her way off the cross.
~LYDSEXICS UNTIE!~
How can these liberal
August 16, 2007 - 08:22 ET by NoMoreClintonsHow can these liberal moonbats hand-wring over executing those who deserve it yet not a word of condemnation for the
muslims who blow up innocent people and teach their children to do the same? I don't get it.
}}---> Easy, NoMo
August 16, 2007 - 08:27 ET by Cool ArrowWe must apologize for all we have done to corner these loving jihadists into a situation such that homicide bombings are necessary.
It's perfectly clear, isn't it?
~LYDSEXICS UNTIE!~
Without the death
August 16, 2007 - 09:17 ET by ahusserWithout the death sentence one's life is not worth the life of the murderer. In other words it actually cheapens life. Often a murderer will spend less than 20 years in jail for a "life" sentence. Another objection is the length of time spent on death row. I can see a year maybe two but not the standard 10 that is now considered normal. Another major objection is, even though prison is bad, most inmates will institutionalize after a time, they will get to take classes, watch TV, listen to music, have sex, read, work, medical care, Air conditioning, heat. In other words they will have a more or less normal life after depriving others of their lives. They will always have a chance for early release, parole or escape.
I think Reuters
August 16, 2007 - 10:15 ET by BeowulfI think Reuters hit the nail squarely on the head here. Why can't those bloodthirsty Christians be more like Reuter's peace-loving and tolerant Muslims? Here we are, murdering hundreds of murderers, while the jihadists only behead innocent civilians infrequently. Apparently, we have a long way to go to catch up with the enlightened Islamists... <sarc on full>
The Closed Mind Erects Strong Barriers
The issue is irrelevant
August 16, 2007 - 12:10 ET by cvgbuckeyeIt does not matter what the moral issue is, liberals find it convenient to lay it at the feet of Christianity. The reasons are quite clear.
1. Christianity establishes "Absolute Truth" which has no place in the liberal's state of mind. And we tell them
2. A liberal with a conscience is a contradiction in terms, as well as liberalism and morality. And we tell them.
3. Liberalism is the greatest form of racism in the history of mankind and they don't have any understanding of that. And we tell them.
4. The deviant lifestyles that liberals attempt to push down society's throat are abominations in humanity. And we tell them.
5. Liberals are terrified of infinity because they either fear judgement or they believe in no end. And we tell them.
6. Christianity and Jesus Christ do not change or lend themselves to societal fads and modernizations. And we tell them so.
7. Christianity is "the only way to eternal life", we make no compromises. And we tell them.
8. We have read the book and we know how it ends. And we tell them.
9. They hate us for all these things. And we tell them.
10. Add your own.
College professors can't answer things they don't believe themse
August 16, 2007 - 12:13 ET by whatajoyWow. Yeah, I thought that "they" comment vs. "we" was interesting. Why couldn't Reuters get a Christian Conservative that is pro-death penalty vs. a college professor who is just hypothesizing as to what "we" believe. That's like asking Satan what God is thinking. Ask the source, not the enemy.
And it did read that there would be 400 executions THIS month, which would be over 12 executions per day to accomplish that. C'mon!! But 400 total since 1982 sounds more like it. Amazing how the liberal media word things to make them sound worse than what they really are.
I am PRO-DEATH PENALTY!!!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Take it easy! We're not making a western here.
~ Uncle Junior (The Sopranos)
How does an atheist who's
August 16, 2007 - 14:08 ET by KhyrisHow does an atheist who's pro-death penalty fit into their hypothesis?
We put down mad dogs. We
August 16, 2007 - 21:20 ET by 4arrowWe put down mad dogs. We should put down mass murderers.
This will shake some up but: if Jesus could handle the death penalty then weep not for cruel sereal killers.