Capital Punishment: A Personal Statement (Chuck Colson)

Prison Fellowship ^ | Chuck Colson

[Conservative Coulter Fan]

Yes, in other cases they are 6 times more likely to get off death row, for example, constantly changing state laws.

[xzins]

The point for me is a biblical point:

a. does the total bible, to include the NT, require the death penalty

b. does it all the death penalty

c. does it ban the death penalty.

Biblically, "b" is the answer. Therefore, you are able to hold your position and still be biblical. It would be wrong for you, however, to tell a death penalty advocate that they were biblically in error.

You could tell them that given current circumstances they aren't making the best choice.

I read recently that there are those who have been sent to death row who should have been sentenced to a lesser murder charge, and that that is the only way people conclude that we have placed convicts on death row in error.

No one disputes their being murderers.

[connectthedots]

I would not tell someone who supports the death penalty that it was unBiblical. The problem isn't the Bible, it is all the corrupt prosecutors and judges who are willing to try and convict those whom they may actually believe may be innocent, even if they have to ignore the rule of law in doing so. to to many prosecutors, it is not about justice; it's about winning; and that is wrong.

[xzins]

Good.

You have your reasons. You have the experiences to have those kinds of reasons.

All I require is absolute certainty that the murderer is the one being executed. If that cannot be absolutely guaranteed, then I don't support the execution. When it can absolutely be guaranteed, then I have no problem with the execution.

[connectthedots]

If there was substantial physical evidence combined with sufficient circumstantial evidence supported by physical evidence, I would not have a problem sentencing someone to death. If the only evidence was eyewitness accounts, I would not sentence anyone to death, and would be very suspicious about the absence of any physical evidence, especially if the witnesses did not personally know the accused.

A larger problem is with prosecutors threatening more serious criminal charges than warranted only to get a defendant to plead guilty to a lesser crime even if the evidence of the lesser crime is weak at best.