Search

ARCHIVES
CONTACT US
WORLD NEWS

Justice served in Shepard case

To the editor,

I disagree with the opinions expressed in the editorial titled "Shepard's Killers Deserve Death Penalty." The fact that any government entity has the power to take someone's life away from them is one of the greatest travesties of the modern age. The death of Matthew Shepard and the subsequent trial of his murderers provides us with an opportunity to see why the death penalty is a punishment that fits no crime.

As a gay man, I feel a tremendous amount of pain when I read about this horrific tragedy. Last week's transcript of the statements made in court by Matthew's father were truly heart-wrenching. In those statements Mr. Shepard explained the reason why he and his wife requested that the court not consider the death penalty in McKinney's sentencing. According to Shepard, McKinney will be forced to spend a lifetime in jail ruminating over the actions that caused his miserable life in prison. That truly will be hell on earth...What better punishment is there that forces a person to really understand the ramifications of their actions. In this case, death would be an easy, perhaps even welcome, escape for Mr. McKinney.

This tragedy was marked by ruthless disregard for human life. Why should a government support a sentence that expresses the same sentiments towards life, even if it is the life of someone like Aaron McKinney? The death penalty supports revenge as a viable outlet, as a justification for the government to take on the role of God.

In the case of Matthew Shepard, justice was truly served.

Jason Cianciotto

Political science junior