OPINION — Editorial

One star recruits

Who wants to witness death?

Unseemly is a word for it. So is undignified. Another word could be, as we sometimes say in these latitudes, ugly. Not ugly in appearance, but ugly as in indecorous. As in, "The man in the store was ugly to me."

Many pro-life politicians in this state's government--a pro-life state, at least according to the commentariat--are clearing the way for death. And at a rapid pace. So rapid, in fact, that they're outrunning their cover.

The state of Arkansas has scheduled eight deaths next month. Yes, scheduled. These won't be traffic accidents, but purposeful, deliberate deaths of people who, it should be said, have it coming. Just because they have it coming, however, doesn't mean the state should be in the business of doling out revenge. Remember just Who said "vengeance is Mine."

The state finally got the needed drugs to do in eight men on death row. And now the paperwork begins to send them out of this world. Eight executions are scheduled two at a time beginning April 17. Two at a time! If this state were a little more gray and flatter, you'd think this was Texas.

Now the state is actively seeking volunteers to watch the deaths proceed. The law calls for between six and 12 witnesses for each execution. There's a list of requirements, as there are for, say, poll workers. Only those watching this display won't get a lesson in civics, but in how to snuff out life: Volunteers must be 21, an Arkansas resident, have no felonies, not be kin to inmate nor victim, and must not be a security risk. What, nothing about requiring Excellent Communication Skills? Or detailed knowledge of social media?

Wednesday's statewide newspaper reported that the state has a shortage of volunteers to witness the killings. And so leaders in the prison system are out . . . recruiting. The director of the Department of Correction was at the Rotary Club the other day asking for volunteers. We are not kidding.

"Depending on the response received," said the department's spokesman Solomon Graves, "further recruitment may not be necessary."

Which makes sense. Because all the department has to do is come up with a handful of people. The law doesn't say each execution has to have different witnesses. Somebody hell-bent on watching the state kill a person can watch it over and again. Like The Daily Show on your DVR.

The best answer to the question of whether to witness a state-sanctioned premeditated killing might have come from Charlotte Gadberry, a Rotarian who was quoted in the news story: She's not interested.

"I can't imagine [the director of the Department of Correction] will get a lot of volunteers. I don't think I could handle it. I'm not real sure how I feel about the death penalty, but it seems like there should be a better way of treating our fellow man."

There you have it. Many of us are not real sure how to feel about the death penalty, either. Long-time readers of this column will note the change in tone of our editorials on the matter in just the last few years. And it's hard to read some of the police reports and court documents on some of these characters without wanting a pound of flesh--and now! But after long thought, calm debate--dare we say, prayer--something says to us . . . "There should be a better way of treating our fellow man."--Charlotte Gadberry.

What about all those who chant, write and wear "Choose Life"? Is that just a slogan, or a principle that can be applied only in certain circumstances? That is, a bendable principle.

There are those who'd note a significant difference between capital punishment and abortion: A baby killed in the womb is completely innocent. It hasn't even had a chance to cry for its first meal, and suggest once again that selfishness may be most folks' first sin. Whereas somebody on death row has probably done something to deserve it. (Probably. But that's another editorial.)

But the phrase Choose Life isn't intended for the baby inside the womb. He or she can't chant, write or wear the phrase. The motto is for the rest of us to remember. Just as it is when a man is tied to a gurney and stuck with a needle. He can't choose life. The rest of us can, however.

The United States of America may now lead the West in executions per capita. It's not a rate of productivity to brag about. And if Arkansas follows through with executing eight men in 10 days next month, it'll be the first time a state has killed that many people since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976. Even the state of Texas will have been left in the dust.

Let's rethink this. And slow down this death train.

Not for the sakes of the condemned. But for ours.

Editorial on 03/26/2017

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