Thanks to the Supreme Court, and barring some kind of last minute, midnight stay from DNC Chairman Tim Kaine, John Allan Muhammad will be executed tonight by lethal injection at the Greensville Correctional Facility in Jarratt, Virginia.
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While the death penalty still remains controversial, there is little doubt that Muhammad was guilty of the DC Sniper murders, along with Lee Malvo. For those who doubt whether we still need or should have the death penalty, those of us who support it can find no better reason than this case. Just looking at a list of their victims is enough to anger even the most stoic personality.
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I remember the sniper shootings vividly. It was only a year after 9/11, and the region had already dealt with the after effects of the terrorist attack on the Pentagon and the Anthrax attacks on Capitol Hill. I was living in Alexandria at the time, about 2 miles from the Home Depot in Seven Corners where recent cancer survivors Linda Franklin was killed. I recall sitting in my car nervously while pumping gas at the Exxon station near the 395 exit on Route 7, scanning the treeline and the road for white vans. I remember the daily commutes into the city, where all of us were staring hard at what seemed to be a million non-descript white cargo vans and box trucks on the highway. I remember the nightly news briefings from Mongtomery County, MD Police Chief Charles Moose.
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The impact of Muhammad’s actions went far beyond his many, many victims. They effected the entire DC metropolitan community. Rarely do Americans wake up in the morning wondering if today is the day they’ll be shot down without warning. But for a few weeks in October, all of us who lived here felt that way.
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Fortunately, the justice system worked. Thanks to the hard work and luck of law enforcement, and the quick thinking of Ron Lantz, a truck driver from Kentucky, Muhammad and Malvo were caught. And thanks to the foresight of Doug Gansler, current Maryland Attorney General and former States Attorney for Montgomery County Maryland, Muhammad was returned to Virginia after being extradited to Maryland for trial. Gansler knew the chances of Muhammad actually being put to death in Maryland were almost zero.
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So tonight, barring any last minute intervention from the DNC, Muhammad will be put to death. And as Gansler said, “the world will be a better place without him.”
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Nov 10th by Brian S
Brian, I agree 100% with what you wrote. I’ve probably parked multiple times in the same exact parking space at the Manassas Bob Evans where they shot poor Mr. Meyers while he pumped gas at the gas station (pretty creepy). I can remember watching my kids run every morning from the car into St. Tim’s School under police protection. Never mind the lost season of sports, scout camping trips, and any other organized outdoor activity. Never mind the massive traffic jams at all hours of the day. This was pure domestic terrorism; if anything worse than the OK City bombing due to the sheer duration and magnitude of its impact. Clearly Mr. Muhammad is a poster child for the death penalty if ever there was one.
But…
If you’re a death penalty opponent you’ve got to make a stand on this one. This is a pure test case for “Thou Shalt Not Kill” – virtually no mitigating factors, absolutely no doubt as to his guilt, and virtually no way that he can hurt anyone else (assuming he would be buried alive in solitary under the Rockies in ADX Florence). Closure, deterrence, punishment, whatever – this is the same kind of test case that brought out the Lefty Anti-War Regardless of the Reason Peaceniks after 9/11 and the subsequent Afghanistan invasion. I’m really surprised we’re not hearing more out of these folks.
Rob Iola
on November 10th, 2009Hey Muhammad, make sure to tell Ted Kennedy hello for us.
Cato the Elder
on November 10th, 2009It came out that the snipers visited the Chevy Chase ATM at the Dulles Towne Center Mall in the midst of their shooting spree, and I always wonder who could have been killed from our community if they had decided it was time to shoot again. It was all so random and meaningless, reading the victims stories is heartbreaking.
I’m glad he is getting killed and I hope he suffers.
Loudoun Lady
on November 10th, 2009Rob, even the craziest of the crazy liberals can’t argue this case. About the only people you’ll see arguing against it are clergy.
Brian S
on November 10th, 2009Not about Muhammed – about our own humanity. But I’m tilting at windmills on this one. I certainly won’t shed a tear at his passing, only about the horrific memories.
But, again, who do we kill and who lives? And what’s the criteria? God says “thou shalt not kill” – so we protect ourselves against those that would do us harm, but when they can’t hurt us do we still kill them?
Drunk drivers who kill – should they be executed? Harrumph all you like about intent, monstrousness of the crime, repeated offenses, “special circumstances”, etc. – but where do we draw the line? And why do we draw the line when God says that it’s not for us to decide?
Someone has to make the argument. And I’m not crazy, and certainly not a liberal, er, progressive…
Rob Iola
on November 10th, 2009No last minute DNC intervention.
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/10/AR2009111000285.html
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Rob, the line has been drawn, both by the states and by the Supreme Court. No one can be put to death unless they’ve committed homicide (which I disagree with). In order to get the death penalty at all, there’s generally a special showing that’s required above and beyond the simple fact of guilt. It is not an easy thing to convince twelve people to put a person to death.
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And the argument that putting someone in prison means they can’t hurt us is specious. They are still a threat to the inmates around them, to the guards, and to anyone who happens to get too close.
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Yes, the ten commandments say “thou shalt not kill.” But I don’t think anyone argues that this means morally we shouldn’t have a military. In the end, there are exceptions to every rule, and that rule is no different.
Brian S
on November 10th, 2009Whats Cuccinelli going to do when presented with death penalty legal challenges? He’s anti death for fetuses and felons and he said he won’t enforce laws he disagrees with. I wonder.
Not A Cooch Fan
on November 10th, 2009Well, fortunately, he doesn’t make the decision. McDonnell will.
Brian S
on November 10th, 2009FWIW, Brian, I am surprised you say there are exceptions to God’s rules. I will not weep because this monster is put to death but we should all consider the gravity of what we are condoning as a society when perhaps there is no need. It IS telling that the clergy are against it – those that are. They are the one’s who are tasked to look after our souls after all.
Eric the 1/2 troll
on November 10th, 2009I won’t be shedding any tears for this servant of Satan. I hope the shooter at Fort Hood meets the same fate. Does the US military still put convicted murderers to death by firing squad?
Loudoun Moderate
on November 10th, 2009I was about 99.9% sure that Tim Kaine wasn’t going to intervene in this case. I think it’s safe to say that those who were against him because of the death penalty can say they are surprised that he’s allowed so many executions to go through. Obviously, the cruel and unusual punishment case before the Supreme Court delayed executions throughout the county. People like Governor Martin O’Malley disgust me and I see him as an embarrassment to the Democratic Party but I don’t think that should surprise anyone, especially regarding the death penalty.
Brian, you bring up a point that many people seem to forget and that is even though someone is incarcerated they are still a threat. I work in the field and have dealt with condemned inmates before and that while they are still a threat. No one really seems to care that guards in jails and prisons are at an even more risk with inmates who serve life without parole because they have nothing to lose in those situations. I’ve found that even the craziest liberals find that if a prisoner kills a guard that that is something worthy of the death penalty.
On a different note, this next year we should see the vetoes from last year regarding the death penalty to become law. I’m not going to go into detail as to why those extra added aggravating factors should be law but I’m happy that those additions will more than likely be signed into law.
DanielK
on November 10th, 2009Good post, Brian. I think this cretin will get exactly what he deserves this evening.
Loudoun Insider
on November 10th, 2009This man deserves the death penalty if ever someone did. To bad the tax payers had to spend money to keep him alive this long and then again to execute him.
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Rob- I am a Fundamental Independent Baptist. I believe the Bible in its entirety. However, the Bible does support the death penalty. I know it seems like a paradox, but it really is true. http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2001/0727news.asp
Ryan
on November 10th, 2009It’s not really about threats is it? Do we go down to Gitmo, sort out who’s a threat vs. who’s not a threat, and then kill those in the threat category?
Look, I’m not arguing against have strong protections against those who would do us harm, both defensively and proactively. By all means, kill them before they kill us, if that’s what it takes. Terrible business, but if people mean us harm then we have to do what we have to do.
But when we’ve got the bastards locked up, then what? Do we still kill them? Shoot the rabid dogs? God said “thou shalt not kill” – four words that people (like Ryan’s source – yes I read it) since the beginning of time have tried to argue away.
In the end it’s not about Muhammed, it’s about us. It’s not about killing someone, it’s about our humanity, our ability to rise above the horrific crimes of our brothers and live the life that Jesus taught. Human life is precious, and we should treat it as such – applying concepts such as forgiveness, redemption, hope, and above all love.
Killing is Satan’s way, living is God’s way.
Rob Iola
on November 10th, 2009I only regret that they didn’t peper him with birdshot every hour on the hour today up until he’s begging them to plunge the needle.
The Bulletproof Monk
on November 10th, 2009“Human life is precious.” -Rob
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YES! I agree with you 100%. But, government’s purpose is “… not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.” Rom 13:3-4
Did you notice the reference to the sword? The sword was an instrument of death. God tells us here that if we do bad things, we should be afraid because the government bears the sword to carry out God’s wrath on the wrong doers. That is what is going to happen tonight to Muhammad.
Ryan
on November 10th, 2009Sadly there are times when the death penalty is the only option. This is one of those times.
I hope this helps the families find some peace.
Cato you are a hateful jerk.
Anon
on November 10th, 2009Eric, I only say it because God made those exceptions himself, at least in regards to “thou shalt not kill.”
Brian S
on November 10th, 2009Brian, There are no exceptions to the “thou shalt not kill” law. The law is actually “thou shalt not murder” and there are no exceptions.
Eric the 1/2 troll
on November 10th, 2009Eric, you are wrong. See my response to Rob
Ryan
on November 10th, 2009Ryan from the link you posted:
“Also, it should be stated that there is no contradiction between Paul’s teaching here and the Biblical commandment ‘thou shalt not kill’ because the commandment actually uses the Hebrew word for ‘murder’– the unjust, unsanctioned taking of a human life–not the word ‘kill.’ ”
I don’t want you to suddenly think I am a pro-death penalty advocate (I am not) but I do not believe there are any exceptions to the commandment “thou shalt not kill” because it refers to “murder”. I would think that you would agree.
That being said, I think there are many interpretations to what you have posted and I also think that the NT does teach us that we should strive to rise above the “eye for an eye” justice system.
Eric the 1/2 troll
on November 10th, 2009Eric: Yes, I agree to a point. However, I disagree that the death penalty is wrong or somehow unbiblical.
Taking one or two sentences out of the source (http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2001/0727news.asp)I posted can make the argument appear invalid and even silly, but if you read the whole I think it explains very closely to what I personally believe to be the truth about the death penalty.
Ryan
on November 10th, 2009“God tells us here that if we do bad things, we should be afraid because the government bears the sword to carry out God’s wrath on the wrong doers.”
This philosophy, of course, is used as a justification for Sharia Law.
Eric the 1/2 troll
on November 10th, 2009The difference is the god of the sharia law. (Sharia law is not God’s law like Muslims proclaim it to be.) [Yes, that is a fact. An absolute statement.]
Ryan
on November 10th, 2009Eric, if that’s how you read it, then capital punishment doesn’t fit the definition. So you should be concerned with Rob’s reading, not my comment about exceptions.
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But regardless, this isn’t a theological debate.
Brian S
on November 10th, 2009With so little respect for life, one could only wonder why he should still enjoy it. I’m not pro death penalty, I just feel he lost his right to life. I see no point bringing the religion debate here, since its not about personnal beliefs. What the victims would have said ?
Radu
on November 10th, 2009God knows when he is making a baby, what the baby will become. So why doesn’t he correct it right then instead of subjecting many to pain?
Chris Milton
on November 10th, 2009Cato, that was very funny. Politically incorrect as Hell, but funny.
Monk, I agree. Muhammad got off easy. I’d like to see him suffer far more. A slow, painful death would have been more a more just and appropriate punishment.
This is the first time where the actions of an executed murderer had any impact on me personally, and it’s only because his actions terrorized me and my family in the general sense – like the rest of the residents in the area. It’s absolutely nothing like what the families of the victims must have felt and continue to feel, but I am damn glad that remorseless piece of crap is dead.
Lloyd the Idiot
on November 10th, 2009“God knows when he is making a baby, what the baby will become. So why doesn’t he correct it right then instead of subjecting many to pain?”
Why must you feel so elevated that you feel worthy to question your creator?
You are , by no means, omnipotent. God works in ways you will never understand. Everything happens for a reason. It is beyond mere mortal men’s cognitive abilities to grasp that concept. It equates to trying to invision the universe which is infinite. We cannot truly grasp that it never ends.
Now, you attempt to step up on the same plane as your creator and question him. So much for humility.
The Bulletproof Monk
on November 11th, 2009Dean, there may be an easier answer–remember “free will”?
Unless one is a proponent of Calvinist predestination, after we’re here the choices are all up to us.
Plenty of people one would think were doomed to failure of every kind manage to succeed, and plenty with adavntages beyond the concept of most people on earth still manage to make some pretty horrific choices.
Remember the elderly Chinese scholars of Steinbeck’s East of Eden learning Hebrew so that they could properly discuss the translation of whether one SHALL, WILL, or MAY have dominion over evil?
“May” turned out to be the most accurate.
We all have choices.
What do we choose?
Barbara Munsey
on November 11th, 2009I believe that God actually tests each of us, although in many, many different ways. How we respond to any particular predicament placed before us IS INDEED free will. But we’re graded on the choice.
The Bulletproof Monk
on November 11th, 2009