I enjoy the Herald and I usually agree with all that is in it, but I must respond to the opinion column of Sept. 26 written by Zachary Bailes [“Whom shall we kill?”].
It is “whining” at its best that is caused by misplaced sympathies. He states that “taking one life for another perpetuates vengeance.” Like the column says, that’s his opinion.
Genesis 6:11-13 makes it clear that God destroyed the earth because it was filled with violence. Genesis 9:5-6 says that the first thing he said when the survivors got off the ark was that human life is valuable, and I require you to take the life of anyone who kills one of you. That was not a suggestion but a command. That is fair and not just revenge, as Mr. Bailes would have us believe.
It is amazing that educated people cannot recognize justice as compared to revenge.
Does giving killers long life sentences fulfill the call for justice? Of course not. Why? Because inmates simply adust mentally to their fate. That’s how they exist. They create a new lifestyle in prison and find many creative ways to shape a new existence and go on to enjoy a lot of things at the tax-paid expense of their victims’ families. Is this fair after they have deprived someone else of life’s opportunities?
To claim executions are state-sponsored revenge is simply a misguided notion. I say the Scriptures and common sense say it is the State’s responsible response to the taking of innocent life. God said if you take a life you should forfeit yours.
Johnny Howlett, Pulaski, Va.