By Charles Barr
It’s not everyday you find comments from one of the most Progressive members of Congress aligning with Libertarian and pro-liberty minded folks.
After Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was found guilty on all 30 counts of inhumane acts of terrorism, Senator Elizabeth Warren said in an interview, “My heart goes out to the families here, but I don’t support the death penalty. I think that he should spend his life in jail. No possibility for parole. He should die in prison.”
Tsarnaev’s trial should be the example of how the United States will ultimately bring justice to radical Islamists during a period where they will stop at nothing to kill for their beliefs. Being a perpetrator of radical Islam and killing innocent human life, Tsarnaev is morally disgusting and twisted – and that barely touches the surface. He is receiving a fair trial and the people involved with this trial and this tragedy are receiving answers to their questions.
That’s what justice for all is about.
Revenge is about getting equal. About getting a fair shot in return for the damage that someone or something has caused. Today, society is bent up in this culture of revenge, of getting equal. And it is reflected in the attitude that so many people share about the death penalty.
Having an attitude of revenge when dealing with the murder of innocent life isn’t justice. It’s an excuse. Justice is having to answer to questions about actions that you have taken. Justice is having to live with the consequences you have taken. Justice is having the whole world see who you truly are.
Revenge isn’t that.
The death penalty is revenge shaped into the form of an overbearing government. They print the money, tax us to death, and kill us because a few people and men in suits agree. What more can we ask for?
The Eighth Amendment was crystal clear: “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.”
What’s more cruel and unusual than death by government?
If you wanted that, just go to Iraq, Iran, China, or North Korea. They could care less if the syringe didn’t kill you within two minutes – they make it quick.
If we want justice to play out for the families affected by Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s actions, revenge is not the answer. The answer isn’t to allow the power and force of government to equal and echo the immoral and twisted behavior of a terrorist. The answer is to be morally superior to his actions.
Elizabeth Warren is right in calling for Tsarnaev to stay in jail. That’s where he belongs for the remainder of his life.
If death by government force is the morally superior answer to justice in this case and in cases all around the United States, then boy do we have a long way to go.
[divider]About the Author[/divider]
An aspiring filmmaker with a passion for liberty-minded politics, Charles Barr resides in Monmouth County, New Jersey and attends Montclair State University with the intention of graduating in 2017 with a double major in filmmaking and political science and a minor in communications. Charles has volunteered for various campaigns including: Ron Paul for President 2012, Stephanie Ziemba for State Assembly, Steve Lonegan for US Senate, Ken Kaplan for Governor, Brian Goldberg for US Senate, and Dorit Goikhman for US Congress. In addition to politics, Charles was the assistant director for the feature length film, My Brother’s Girlfriend that premiered in early 2015 and has helped with the production of various shorts. Currently, Charles serves as the Associate Director for the Empowerment PAC, the Assistant Chair of Herrera PAC, and is writing a web-series based on the dangers of prescription painkillers.
