Does anyone remember Megan Kanka? The Megan of Megan's Law??? Megan's Law requires registration for sexual offenders. Each state since Megan's death at age 7 has enacted this law.
Megan was 7 playing outside her house when 2x convicted sex offender Jesse Timmendequas invited her over to come see his puppy. Megan, a trusting kid, did want to see his puppy. When she went there, she was brutally raped... and then strangled with Timmendequas belt.
He led police to her body a couple of days later... the parents and others pushed for the death penalty. It was assigned as Timmendequas sentence. Nothing left but the inevitable and (required) appeals process in order to insure that an innocent man wasn't going to die.
Got all that?? So this week, New Jersey abandons the death penalty. They aren't going to use it as a means of punishment, deterrence etc., anymore. That means that Timmendequas has gotten a get out of lethal injection free card. Timmendequas lives.
Why oh why would you put the Kanka family back through this nightmare? A judge and a jury concurr that someone merits death for killing your precious 7 yr old daughter and then the state legislature overrules them. There are times, friends and readers, that living in a red state has its advantages.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/17/death.penalty/index.html?eref=time_us
So... I know forgiveness is something to strive for in these circumstances, and I know that Jesus died for Timmendequas too. I still have a problem with this bait and switch played on the parents and loved ones of Megan Kanka. I also know that Jesus told us that someone who injures or leads little ones astray... for him it would be better to have a millstone around his neck and be thrown into a lake of fire... Honestly, this appears in all four gospels... All FOUR... think He meant it??
Vengeance is mine says the Lord... why don't we just hasten His opportunity for Him to seek His vengeance?
But... what do you think??
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2 comments:
It bothers me, that's for sure. I don't understand why the State couldn't have abandoned the death penalty from here on out, rather than have a legislative branch nullify a decision that was legally done in the court system.
I'm not a death penalty advocate, although I do think there are times when it is appropriate. Tim McVeigh for example. It seems off to me that New Jersey can just wipe the will of citizen jurors away.
On a more personal(and vengeful) level, it seems wrong that this guy will live out the remainder of his days in peace when Megan was certainly not given that.
All I have to say, Grace, is AMEN AMEN AMEN!!! I agree with you totally and completely.
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