I read an excellent article in the Christian Science Monitor and several blogs over the past couple of weeks concerning the Tookie Williams execution, scheduled about four hours from now. For those living under a rock, Stanley “Tookie” Williams is the latest pet of liberal celebrities who oppose the death penalty. Williams was a co-founder of the Crips, the notorious CA gang responsible for many deaths over the past two decades, who was sentenced to death for killing four people for a couple of hundred dollars. During his stay in prison, Williams claims to have reformed, having written a handfull of children’s books teaching the dangers of the gang lifestyle. For this, Tookie and his many supporters feel that he should not be sentenced to death.
There has never been any doubt about Williams’ guilt. He has had dozens of appeals, and every one has confirmed his guilt. He has never admited guilt, or shown any remorse or regret for his actions. He has apologized and been remorseful for his role in the gang, but has refused to “name names” for fear of being labeled a snitch. If he wanted to be taken seriously, why wouldn’t he do this?
And what about his victim’s families? Since when do we focus our mercy on those who commit cold-blooded murder? If the liberals were simply looking for a case that represents the ineffectiveness of the death penalty, you chose the wrong one. So he “reformed.” So he wrote some children’s books. So he’s devoted what’s left of his life to keeping kids out of gangs. So what? That’s what he should do! If he has truly reformed and is remorseful for what he has done, he should want to do this, regardless of whether he gets something out of it.
If he truly wanted his sentence commuted, he should have reached out not only to the youth in gangs, but also to the victims’ families. Even if he truly believed that he didn’t commit the crime, he would be able to find in himself a way to reach out to them and understand their pain. He would have some understanding of how him “being a snitch” could prevent more families from going through the same pain that these families have for the past two decades. That’s what a truly reformed person would do.
I will say an extra prayer tonight for Mr. Williams.
Michelle Malkin and La Shawn Barber also discuss this.
