Crime, Crime, Crime…What about the punishment?

20.APR.07

Editor: Like many Vincentians, I continue to be saddened by the escalating crime situation in my country, SVG. One cannot even get time to recover from the horror of one crime before another is committed. Perpetrators of these heinous criminal acts operate as if life is of no value – i.e. the life of the victim. What is often vexing is that these murderers, along with their defenders, will have the audacity to argue that they (criminals) have a right to life and even demand improved conditions in prison. In essence, their evil act is often excused and persistently pleaded in order to get away from just punishment – the DEATH PENALTY (hanging in our society).{{more}}

At this point, my message to the criminals/murderers is brief and clear: repent of your wicked ways so that you may be saved in the judgement of God (Ezekiel 18:21, 22). However, the consequence for your heartless unlawful killing, with premeditated malice (murder) should be DEATH, nothing less. The all wise God, wiser and more just than any man, says ‘whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man…If thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain…’ (Gen. 9:6; Rom.13:4).

The issue of crime is a very, serious one. And I wonder how much the rightful authority, like the judiciary, is seriously doing to effectively deal with crime? What is holding back the executions of killers, like the cold-blooded beheader who has the presumptuousness to talk about ‘rights’? Are you (the judiciary) crippled by the so called intricacies of the law? If so, work to root them out. Or, are you blind to the horror of these crimes and therefore delay justice? Do you know the negative and long-lasting effect this is having on society? ‘Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil’ (Eccl.8:11).

People think they can settle their differences or vent their anger by boldly resorting to the worst of means-murder. Obviously they seem not to be deterred, because they could spend just a number of years in jail, getting fat off tax payers money and having their lives preserved. In the meanwhile, all the family of the victim receives is condolences. What about justice? This failure to give the criminal the just penalty (hanging) for his crime accentuates or creates graver problems. People cherish feelings of anger and bitterness because they think justice has not been done, and they take revenge. And what do we have? A worsening situation! It’s like: ‘you murder my relative, I murder yours’ and the vicious cycle continues. ‘Leh me go ah jail go sit down’ is often a phrase echoed by the criminal. Well I say (since they playing big and bad) let us have a few hangings and hear if they will be as quick to say ‘leh me tek de hengman.’

The crime rate will not decrease until there is visible and just punishment meted out to the criminals. Forget all the foolish emotional, unbiblical and unfounded arguments that are propagated such as ‘it is barbaric, inhumane…the criminal deserving a second chance etc.’ These (opponents) mortal men are not wiser than their Creator. Maybe they need to be in the place of the family of the victim/s!

It is these same ‘pathetic’ arguments they use against Corporal Punishment when the Bible tells us ‘withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beat him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shall beat him with the rod, and deliver his soul from hell’ (Prov.23:13, 14). Do you think that criminals/murderers are born overnight? It is years of fostering ill-disciplined behaviour, parents’ excuse-making and failure to exercise corrective measures of punishments which produce hardened criminals.

It is the cherishing and pampering of selfish, evil character traits that develop into mature, uncontrollable passions leading to murder. And then some ‘know-it-all, child-right activist or so called humanist’ tells us that corporal punishment and capital punishment are inhumane and humiliating. Non-sense! We need to hear more about punishments, punishments, punishments and we will hear less about crime.

Ann-Marie John
E-mail:svgpatriot@hotmail.com