Where Does Our Death Penalty Passion Come From

[MsDemeanor]

Originally Posted by Laerkin

I am fiercely against the death penalty. My sister a public defender, defending the poorest and the least educated and the troubled, sometimes in unspeakable crimes. The stories of abuse, racism, blatant disregard, and hatred that so many of her clients have faced are shocking. That's not to say they're necessarily innocent of their crimes, but it's certainly taken my compassion to a whole new level.

I've been a bystander in a violent crime and I've had friends and loved ones affected by violence.

However, I still do not bend when it comes to the death penalty. Murder is murder.

Replace 'sister' with 'husband'; add ramblings about systemic false/misleading/evasive testimony by police, buddy-buddy judges who help out DAs, and crime shows/nightly news scripted to keep suburban white folks scared. Replace 2nd paragraph with 'step brother murdered'. Ditto everything else.