Editor:
As a result of Tennessee executing its first inmate in nearly a decade the debate of capital punishment is in the news. Tennessee inmate Billy Ray Irick was executed for the murder and rape of Paula Dyer, a 7-year-old girl. Before Irick received the lethal injection his comments indicated he may have acknowledged his evil and accepted his punishment. Irick said, “I just want to say I’m really sorry.”
The 2016 Democratic party platform seeks to abolish the death penalty, “which has proven to be a cruel and unusual form of punishment. It has no place in the United States of America.” The Democratic party platform would reform mandatory minimum sentences, close private prisons and end racial profiling. The Democratic platform would keep the death penalty for unwanted unborn babies. The Democratic platform says: “We will appoint judges who defend the constitutional principles of liberty and equality for all and will protect a woman’s right to safe and legal abortion.”
The Republicans are tougher on crime and support the death penalty. The 2016 Republican party platform notes the death penalty is firmly settled by the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and opposes efforts to erode this right. Republicans support the sanctity of human life and affirms, “The unborn child has a fundamental right to life which cannot be infringed.” Republicans support a Human Life Amendment making clear the 14th Amendment’s protections apply to babies before birth and it salutes states requiring informed consent, parental consent, waiting periods and clinic regulation.
The Bible commands, “You shall not murder.” Killing in self-defense and capital punishment the Bible allows. Romans 13 says government is given the power of the sword to avenge wrath upon the evil doer. The execution of Irick was an act of state justice doing what God has called it to do. Justice is of the highest importance to God. Psalm 89:14: “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne.” That is why no one goes to heaven unless Jesus has paid for their sins with his blood.
Capital punishment is unfortunately a necessary and beneficial corrective to the crime of murder. Capital punishment if administered surely and swiftly is a deterrent to crime. Those murderers given the death penalty can’t later murder guards or others, escape or be freed by a pardon. Without the death penalty society must pay for the anguish suffered by the victims, their family and friends of crime, than pay again each year to hold the criminal in prison. Without the death penalty society is doubly victimized!

D.D. Nave
Elizabethton