“Cowards die many times before their deaths” wrote William Shakespeare in the play Julius Caesar. He wrote often about death, treating it as a natural ending to this mortal coil in which we live. It seems the subject of death in our modern era is mostly handled with whispers, sadness, and much difficulty, only to be altered when death occurs through horrific occurrences.
This week we are watching a modern play on death unfold as the Trump administration, through a cabinet secretary, tosses out a throwaway line about the possibility of having a public execution for a vile person who attacked, murdered many, and was convicted and sentenced to death. The puzzle offered was how to conduct the execution, in a private setting or streaming online for all to watch. President Trump, after a delay long enough to test public and political attitudes about public executions, has now said it will be done in private. To be honest, I am not sure how I’d vote on this if given the chance to choose.
I reflect upon the issue of whether government should conduct executions in public under any circumstances, or if government should be able to take a life at all. I’ve always been conflicted on these points.
Early in my career I had House committee staff responsibility for Florida Department of Corrections, then led by Louis Wainwright. I was able to visit Death Row, and I was allowed to sit in ‘Old Sparky’ and face the room that those facing that final penalty would view. While not being anywhere near the real thing, I still could envision while contemplating the severity of each final act.
As a Christian I have wrestled with the taking of a life. The Bible is a definite yes in the Old Testament regarding government executions, but oddly the New Testament, and specifically in the red inked words of Christ, silent on the issues. This has always puzzled me, the silence, especially since he knew all along that his destiny was the cross and his end was foretold.
As a human I understand the concept of vengeance. As for deterrence I can only accept, and we can only know for sure,that only the one being killed is truly deterred from repeating their evil.
The person who sits as the head of The Catholic Church now has spoken against killing, even killing those who in my heart I know deserve to die. This Pope has said recently, “The death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person. The common good can be safeguarded and the requirements of justice can be met without recourse to capital punishment.” History shows us that it is mostly modern Catholic leaders who have taken this strong stand and that earlier Popes in concert with heads of state, were both advocates and engaged in capital activities, either directly or through the supported acts of others. History also tells us that public executions were common in our country through the 19th century and even up to the 1930’s. Now officials in our government are calling for a televised public execution of a vile, evil person, and the public discussion now is not whether he should die, but rather who should watch.
Again I am conflicted. I’m going to have more than two hands on this one. On the one hand I know he doesn’t deserve to live. On the second hand I wrestle with government taking a life. On the third hand I know I would want to kill him myself if he had killed someone close to me. Finally, on the fourth hand, I’m thinking that having to watch the execution of a life taking might provide clear answers for those unsure about the penalty.Would a visible act alter public attitudes one way or another? While we have come a long way from ‘the hanging trees’ in town squares and executions having a festival-picnic atmosphere, we still have savagery amongst us and murders occur it seems daily.
To me it is not enough to just support the taking of a life as long as it is sterile to each individual, done in secret behind thick walls, and then being just notified that the deed was done. It is akin to those meat eaters who hate hunting but eat all kinds of meat as long as they do not have to think about from where it came.
Where are you, the readers, on these issues? Are executions acceptable and in private, maybe with needles, or do we need the arena so we can see it done? The human mind and heart are gifts, but sometimes they act in conflict.
Many would cite religious reasons for their thinking, but as I have said above, the Old Testament seems to favor it, even as God himself told Moses “Thou shalt Not Kill”. He did not footnote it with exceptions.
In the end we all form our own opinions. Either way, my view is that it’s not a spectator sport and as a culture we should be well past Caligula’s circuses, but there are times when keeping a monster alive for the duration of his or her life just seems offensive to society. I think that this conundrum is why we are still debating these issues in 2026.
In the end we make our own resolutions on matters of morality and conscience. I will continue to lean in support in the more heinous crimes and remain savage enough to want to take my own actions if needed to protect my family, friends, and innocents; the consequences be damned. However, I am hopeful that our society is a bit past public executions, which if used place us back at the hanging trees in our town squares, but as a friend responded to me in a public post regarding who should have the option to either view or do the act, “the families affected should be allowed to do it. Not just be there, do it. I do not believe it serves as a deterrent. I do believe it is just.” My friend continued “I am pro-life for the innocent, but pro-death for the evil. That is easily reconciled in my mind. I do not believe 20 years on death row followed by death is justice.”
I share his sentiments and yes, I am likely to watch one if we ever come to that. You cannot favor something only as long as you depend on others to act and to witness. If you support it, you have a moral obligation to view it done.
