From: crs@stein.u.washington.edu (Cliff Slaughterbeck)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Re: Wesley Allen "Hang Me" Dodd
Date: 6 Jan 93 07:01:35 GMT
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle

rainbow@qiclab.scn.rain.com (Donita Thompson) writes:

>Did anyone happen to see this morning's "Good Morning, America"
>starring Wesley Allen "Hang Me" Dodd???  Amazing story. From
>the time he was 15 years old, this man has been molesting little
>children. Now he's condemned to hang tonight for molesting and
>killing 3 poor little boys from our very own Northwest.
> 
>What really blew me away this morning during his interview was
>when he said that "because I have found Jesus, I get to go to
>heaven." WHAT??!!!
>
>Imagine the 3 little dead boys' faces when Dodd shows up at the
>Pearly Gates!
>
>[I'm sure all of us will be in for some surprises.  One may doubt the
>reality of some claimed conversions -- whether they are based on a
>real Christian repentance.  But I hope you are not suggesting that
>child molestation is unforgiveable.  --clh]

This has been a really big deal here in Washington State, since it is the 
first time that anyone has actually been executed here in nearly 30 years.
Most of the local TV media covered the event as live as they could--ie they
didn't show the actual hanging, but did have two or three separate reporters
at the Walla Walla prison where the execution took place and covered the
press conference live at 12:30 AM local time.

Dodd was a really interesting fellow from a psychological standpoint, in
my honest but nonprofessional opinion.  He had been molesting children from
his early teenage years and although he knew it was wrong; he just couldn't
stop himself from doing it again and again.  I can't even imagine the hell
that he must have been through with the Devil having enough of a grip over
him to force him to sin again and again.  From the accounts that I have
followed, it seemed to me that he was somewhat relieved to have been caught.
He wanted to die, rather than face the 50 or so years in prison and the
psychological torment it would bring him.

Now nobody is arguing that he should have been set free, or minimizing the
crimes that Dodd committed, but it seems to me that the government aught not
to be in the business of taking a life.  I have several reasons for this:

Firstly, as a Christian, I believe that we should not stand in judgement
of those who have sinned.  In my opinion, it is our responsibility to try
and help people like Dodd as much as we can.  It is certainly true that 
Dodd probably could never be released outside of prison, but we ought to 
try rather than just give up.

Secondly, statistics indicate that the death penalty is not an effective
deterrent.  Countries with the death penalty have much higher murder rates
than those without it, and in recent times when various states have 
reinstituted the death penalty, it has not slowed down the murder rate.

Thirdly, as a taxpayer, it costs much more to execute someone than it does
to house them for life in prison.  We have all heard the statistics about
how much it costs to house prisoners, but it costs much more to pay all of
the lawyers and judges who argue the case through the myriads of appeals.
Since nearly all cases of aggravated murder are committed by the poor, all
of the costs of the defense and appeals are borne by the state.

Fourthly, in my opinion, it constitutes cruel an unusual punishment to 
house a convicted felon on death row for eight to ten years before the appeals
process runs its course.  Furthermore, I for one, am staunchly opposed to
reducing the number of appeals available to an inmate awaiting execution.
If we are going to kill people to show that killing is wrong, we should make
darn sure that everything is done up front and with all the rights of the
convict respected.

Surveys of the American people show that most Americans strongly support the
death penalty, so it is unlikely to be overturned in the near future.  I
have often wondered why this is the case.  I have come to the conclusion that
people regard the death penalty as a way of getting back at the bad guys.
It mostly makes people happy that they have a way of getting back at those
who torment them.  Revenge.

Getting back off my soapbox and back to the Dodd case in particular, Dodd
was asked if he had any last words.  Trying to recall them from memory,
they were something like:

"I was once asked by some one, I don't remember who, if there was any way
to find peace if you were a child molester.  My answer was No.  I was wrong.
There is a way to find peace and rest.  Jesus Christ can give you peace 
and rest.  I have found my peace in the Lord."

Donita asked the question above: "What do you think the thoughts of those
tree little boys were when they saw Dodd come through the Pearly Gates?"

My speculative and somewhat hopeful answer would be that they were relieved
to see Dodd had found his peace at last.

****************************************************************************
Cliff Slaughterbeck           * 
Dept. of Physics, FM-15       *   There is no such thing as "rock bottom".
University of Washington      *   
Seattle, WA 98195             *
****************************************************************************