I love how we cater to murderers

So I was driving home after voting this morning and I heard some morning talk show DJ’s talking about what they would request as a last meal if they were convicted murders.  They were joking about how simple some would be; one girl said chips and queso would be enough for her.  A couple other guys were talking about how an ice-cold beer would be in their request.

It got me thinking.  Not about what I would want for a last meal but why our criminal justice system provides this service.  I see it two ways.  One, the murderer doesn’t deserve it and two, they didn’t provide that same service.

We see murder as the most vile of all crimes and make it punishable by death in some states.  At the least we lock them away so long, by the time they get out, if they get out, they only have a few years left before they die.  So why do we provide a service that gives them a choice about  their last meal?  They are murderers and took the life of someone who did not deserve to die.  Why do we give them the choice?  I say we just force them to skip their last meal, save the money, and put the murderer to death on an empty stomach.  Or, if that is too inhumane, then we ask the family of the victim to select the last meal.  That way those who have compassion for the murderer can sleep at night.

The other reason I do not agree with the last meal idea is because the victim didn’t get a choice.  They did wake up that morning knowing when they were going to die.  They didn’t have adequate time to plan for their last meal.  If a victim, who did nothing wrong, doesn’t get to chose, why should a murderer?

We place way too much emphasis on giving rights to the wrong people in this country.  We are so afraid to offend that we give in to these outrageous demands of criminals and those that support the rights of felons.  They are murderers.  They do not deserve rights.  They gave up their rights when they killed another human being in cold blood. 

We need to stop pampering these people and start making prison a place that no one wants to go.  Not a place that provides 3 square meals and a place to sleep.  Our prison system should focus on making prison a punishment not an attempt to rehabilitate.  I wish it did provide rehabilitation for those who break the law, but it doesn’t.  Seems it is time to make prison a punishment.

No more cable tv.  They can read a book.

No more A/C.  They can use a fan.

No more family visits.  They can write a letter.

No more mattresses.  They can have a cot.

No more last meals.  They don’t deserve one.

Do you have any suggestions on how to make prison a place of punishment and not a rite of passage?

Parents Need to Step Up

Last week, in Killeen, Texas, we had three gun incidents at three different middle schools.  These schools were from different parts of the city, with one of them being on a military installation. 

Before any of the smoke had cleared parents began saying that bullying was out of control.  That kids felt they needed to bring the guns to school as a way to protect themselves.

Many other parents called for teachers to get more involved.  With one saying that since teachers spend so much time with our children they should do more. 

I have a different take.  How about you start being a real parent and stop passing the responsibility on to someone else?  When are parents going to realize that kids are who they are because of what they are taught, how they are raised and what their support system is like at home?

Our teachers spend roughly 187 days out of one year with our children.  We spend 18 years with them.  Who then should the blame be placed on for children who are delinquent?

Woah, woah, Mr. Writer, these kids brought guns because they were being bullied.  That’s a school system problem.

Is it?  Really?  It all goes back to the parents.

First, in order to have a bullying problem you have to have a bully.  How did that child learn that bullying was a proper way to conduct themselves?  Certainly not from a teacher.  So who?  Another student?  Maybe, but that “other student” has a parent or guardian that is teaching their child how to become an adult. 

Second, as for the child bringing the gun; what are their parents doing to rectify the situation at school before the gun is considered an answer?  And if your child is being bullied its probably because he or she is not the type steal or purchase a gun illegally.  So why then, parents, are your guns accessible? 

Once again the situation could have been prevented if parents took responsibility. 

So my plan is this.  Since parents do not want to take responsibility for their children then we should allow the school system and the criminal justice system to handle things.  Gone are the days of in school suspension and alternative school. 

If your child bullies a student then he or she is criminally charged with intimidation.  Go to juvenile detention. 

If your child fights another child, they are charged with assault.  Go to juvenile detention.

If your child brings a gun to school they are charged with felony possession of a firearm and they get charged.  Go to juvenile detention.  And as an added bonus, the parents get charged with child endangerment if it is their gun. 

I hope you enjoy visiting your children at juvenile hall. 

Shall we as parents step up or continuing placing the blame elsewhere?  Your choice.

Army Hazing

This is my response to a story I read on the Killeen Daily Heralds website:

http://www.kdhnews.com/news/story.aspx?s=65836

Hazing, Verb: Force (a new or potential recruit to the military, a college fraternity, etc.) to perform strenuous, humiliating or dangerous tasks.

Where does that say hazing is forcibly removing and then penetrating another human being with fingers or other items?

You don’t see it there because that already has a term, and that term is sexual assault.

We tell our sons and daughters that being a Soldier is an honorable profession, where you will forever have pride in knowing that you were one of the few to serve this nation.  You will be one of the few who stood up for something bigger than yourself.  The memories you make in the military will last a lifetime.  As a former Soldier, with two tours in Iraq, I know these feelings. 

I wonder if anyone told SPC Wright that his memories of the military would haunt him at night?

We send our men and women of the military to fight a common enemy.  Unfortunately that common enemy is becoming the man or woman standing in the ranks next to them.  Sexual assault in the military continues to increase and I wonder why.

Perhaps it is because in the military, acts like the one that happened to SPC Wright and his fellow Soldiers, are being categorized as hazing and not the correct term, sexual assault.

Perhaps the military does not see a decrease in sexual assaults because you can sexually assault someone and only receive 2 years confinement.

Perhaps the military does not see a decrease in sexual assaults because you can participate in a sexual assault and only receive a reduction in rank and 120 days confinement.  Let us also not forget that this “soldier” gets to stay in a profession that is supposed to be filled with men and women of honor and integrity.  I hope, now PFC Cornell, enjoys his pay and benefits that our tax dollars fund.  What an outrage that you and I pay the salary of a person who committed sexual misconduct.

Perhaps it is because you can sexually assault another Soldier and never have to register as a sex offender.

Perhaps it is because the military does not ensure the punishment fits the crime.

Perhaps it’s time they start.