Justice has been served

Alan Lamb
senior, English

This week's conviction of the Green River Killer in Washington State presents us with an excellent opportunity to reflect on the current state of the death penalty in America. Gary Ridgway, confessed murderer and rapist of women, pled guilty before a judge and God to all 48 counts of first degree murder against him. Yet he will not be executed for his crimes.

Ridgway's life is spared; a plea bargain deal in exchange for information from America's most prolific serial killer keeps him from the gallows.

Is this justice? If you're against the death penalty like I am, then the answer is yes. Perhaps there is an "outrage" here though, as some in the media have already portrayed there to be. The vigilantes on the Fox News Channel were sharpening their knives. Audience members and callers were tripping all over each other to voice their personal disgust at the softy district attorneys for "making a deal with the devil."

The families of the victims are understandably conflicted and angry. And so am I, but my beliefs remain unshaken. Gary Ridgway is a genuine monster. But does he deserve to die? Yes? No? Maybe?

Now let me revise the question. Does he deserve to die by our hand? Consider the words of Pope John Paul II in an encyclical letter from 1995: "... And yet God, who is always merciful even when he punishes, 'put a mark on Cain' lest any who came upon him should kill him" (Gen 4:15). He thus gave him a distinctive sign, not to condemn him to the hatred of others, but to protect and defend him from those wishing to kill him, even out of a desire to avenge Abel's death. Not even a murderer loses his personal dignity, and God himself pledges to guarantee this."

Fundamental to this teaching is that every human life has a value that does not expire - even Ridgway's. How a society treats its lowest and worst members says volumes about the culture.

Our society routinely executes the poorest and least-educated suspects, leaving better-groomed, better-defended white criminals off death row. We do little to protect or serve the prostitutes and runaways Ridgway preyed upon, yet we cry out for their killer's blood once they are dead. And do you think his life in prison will be any better now that he's not scheduled to die?

Those who believe that prisoners such as Ridgway live lives of lenient comfort are laughably wrong. Unfortunately, Ridgway will not live out the term of his life sentence. He will not live the rest of his natural life in isolation, deprivation and cold suffering. And he will not get to spend that time reflecting on his sins and seeking, if not redemption, at least some small forgiveness. The man will be beaten, raped and eventually murdered, sooner rather than later most likely.

Wisconsin has no death penalty at all, and Jeffery Dahmer lasted only three years before being bludgeoned to death in a contract killing. One of the motivations for the prosecutors to make their "deal with the devil" was it would save the county possibly as much as $18 million in court costs. Can you imagine $18 million going to help prostitutes get off the streets?

The public need not be outraged. We're just killing Gary Ridgway on the cheap in an even more gruesome fashion. Still want your hand on the switch? Still feel like washing up, Pilate? This is done in your name and mine.

The only positive to come from this tragedy is a legal quirk in Washington law. In that fair state all death sentences are evaluated within the context of other crimes and sentences. If the Green River serial killer is not executed, hopefully no one else will be either.

We must create and maintain a robust culture of life in our country because it is essential for the survival and success of humanity on this planet. It is the only way. Everyone agrees on this one - Jesus, Buddha, Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. So keep working for change and sleep well tonight knowing there will soon be one less serial killer among us. Justice is served.

These views do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Egyptian.

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