Death Penalty Conversations in the Car

This is the time of year when Saturday's are dedicated to soccer games. With our ten year old playing in Bernalillo and our nine year old playing in Albuquerque that means a lot of drive time. This in turn can lead to some interesting conversations.

Take for instance this last Saturday. I don't remember how it started (maybe something was reported on the radio), but the conversation turned to the death penalty. The kids didn't really understand at first what the death penalty was all about. My wife dutifully explained then the conversation went something like this...

Nine year old: Well, I don't think we should have the death penalty, because I don't think Chris Brown should be put to death.

Wife: No, Chris Brown couldn't get the death penalty because he didn't kill anyone.

Nine year old: Oh.

Ten year old: Well, I think Radio Disney should stop playing Chris Brown songs.

Me: Sounds like a good idea.

Silence.

Nine year old: I don't think anyone should get the death penalty. They should just go to jail.

Me: Really?

Nine year old: Yeah, you shouldn't kill people.

Me: Well, what if someone killed your brother, would you want them to go to prison for life or get the death penalty?

Nine year old: Dead [not even a second of hesitation].

Me: I thought you didn't want the death penalty.

Nine year old: But, that's different.

Ten year old: No, it's the same thing.

Personally, I support the death penalty. If there is a petition to put the repeal of New Mexico's death penalty before the voters, I'll gladly sign it. And, if the referendum makes it to the ballot, I'd vote to bring it back. For me, it's not just about if a family member was murdered. If the bodies that were found on the West Mesa are the result of one killer, and that person is found alive, then I think they should get the death penalty.

With that said, I'm on record as saying that the death penalty is an issue were I don't believe there is a clear-cut right or wrong answer.

The Right and Wrong Reasons

I support the death penalty. Yesterday, the New Mexico House of Representatives voted to repeal the death penalty. I don't hold it against those who voted for the repeal because I believe that this is one issue on which the individual must vote based on personal values.

With that said, I find the excerpt below to be an interesting illustration of the difference between Democratic and Republican values when it comes making an important decision:

Chasey said she hopes to persuade Richardson that opposing the death penalty would enhance his international stature. She also said signing a repeal bill could “distinguish” him in the Democratic primary. Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia Center for Politics made a similar statement in a recent interview.

During the hourlong House floor debate, Republican Whip Dan Foley of Roswell pointed out that since 1960, New Mexico has executed only one person — child rapist and killer Terry Clark of Artesia. Clark was lethally injected in November 2001 for the murder of 9-year-old Dena Lynn Gore of Artesia.

“The system in New Mexico is working,” Foley said. “We have been very cautious, very careful.”

Republican Representative Foley is clearly and thoughtfully evaluating the merits of continuing the death penalty on the performance of the system to date. By contrast, Democratic Representative Chasey is making the argument that Governor Bill Richardson should abandon his stated values, he is on record as supporting the death penalty, for political gain.

There are many good reasons to support or oppose the death penalty; however, neither "enhancing international status" nor "distinguishing oneself in the Democratic primary" qualify as good reasons. The fact that Representative Chasey would put these forth as motivating factors for the Governor says one of two things:

1) Representative Chasey believes political gain trumps personal values when it comes to making a decision.

AND/OR

2) Representative Chasey thinks that the easiest way to persuade Governor Richardson to abandon his values is to demonstrate political gain.

Either way, it's pretty sad.