Killing this man does nothing

I don’t want to bother looking up the latest survey, but take my word for it that the majority of Americans are pro-death penalty. Why? I do not know.

Executing this man will only be revenge. And we will be no safer for doing it. (Photo from Wikipedia Commons)

There is no deterrent effect provided by it. It costs a shit ton of money. And, more importantly, it takes away a part of our national heart every time we do it. Tonight John Allen Muhammed, one of the infamous Beltway Snipers, will be executed. This will do nothing to stop terrorism, both international and domestic, and will only serve as a sick form of revenge by a society scared.

Random acts of violence and terror will continue long after this man’s heart ceases to beat. Soldiers will die, mother’s will bury kids. The Boogey Men and Women will always be there, forcing us to check our locks at night just one more time.

John Allen Muhammad is a huge chunk of waste in the grand scheme of the world. But we should not lower ourselves, as a nation, to his level.

I’ll be back this week to rant more about the death penalty’s failures, but for now just take a minute to think seriously if you’ll be safer tonight because this man is dead.

I know for a fact that you won’t be.