Illinois Pleased God - DP Abolition

"The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." ~MLK

GREAT NEWS happened on this 9th day of March, 2011 - the State of Illinois has abolished the death penalty! Thanks to the legislators and to Gov. Quinn, who said "the system is inherently flawed." God moved on the hearts of men and women of conscience and Illinois joined 15 other states that ended capital punishment. We must do as the Bible says and pray for those in authority over us. God has the heart of the king in His hand, and He turns it the way that He will. The last two paragraphs in this article announce what I believe is God's plan for death to the death penalty.

I solute decision makers in Illinois and pray that every state in the Union that has not already renounced capital punishment will join Illinois to save lives and taxpayers' money. A single inmate condemned to death costs taxpayers an average of $90,000 per year over and above the price of sentencing the same man/woman to a maximum security prison (DPIC data). That is more than many families of four live on in two or three years.

People who do not care to end capital punishment just because America's justice system is inherently flawed and INNOCENT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EXECUTED should consider the high cost of killing coupled with citizens' high cost of living. In this economic downturn, every state should unburden themselves of expensive death penalty trials plus the extra costs of incarcerating people on death row. I know EXECUTIONS ARE FUN FOR SOME FOLKS (particularly prison owners and investors), but abolition is a sacrifice governors and state legislators should make in order to keep more schools open and fund other NEEDED programs. Google my NowPublic.com article: "Killing Inmates Is Costly; Cheaper to Watch TV - w/ Torture Videos." What do you think, Texas?

Even people who support capital punishment do not agree with torture. Three men suffered agonizing executions since the U.S. supplier for sodium thiopental, Hospira, stopped manufacturing the anesthetic that executioners use. Georgia and Arizona used ineffective sodium thiopental to kill three men since September 2010: Jeffrey Landrigan, Emmanuel Hammond, and Brandon Rhode, a brain damaged young white man.* Hebrews 13:3 admonishes Christians to consider the suffering of prisoners as though we were also being tortured. Abolishing the death penalty has never been more urgent than now. For more information on the faulty anesthesia that states purchase from the back of a British bicycle shop, Google for the article at my FreeSpeakBlog: "STOP TORTUROUS EXECUTIONS IN THE USA."

Ironically, most executions happen in the Bible Belt, although Jesus came so people would have life and have it more abundantly. He laid down His crown in heaven and then His life here on earth so that you and I - and even murderers - could have another chance. How hypocritical it is to accept God's forgiveness for one's own sins but refuse to forgive others, including brothers and sisters in Christ who were saved during their prison terms. God's mercy is new every morning. When asked how many times a man should forgive another, Jesus said 70 times 7 in one day for a SINGLE offense. Some might respond, "What about victims and their families?" The good news is that my God will deal with all unrepentant sinners both in this life and in the hereafter. He said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." I trust Him to keep His promises. Do you? If so, let us all urge our elected and appointed officials to abolish the death penalty. We cannot afford capital punishment for two reasons: Killing people offends God, especially shedding innocent blood. With over 400 inmates exonerated in recent years by irrefutable evidence including DNA tests, it is beyond doubt that some people who proclaimed innocence as they were executed were telling the truth. Secondly, capital punishment drains resources that are sorely needed to help more Americans lead the abundant life God plans for us.

For He hath looked down from the height of His sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth; to hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death. ~Psalm 102:19-20

Of all the censored justice articles I publish, anti-death penalty news is attacked most vehemently. Sharing my articles is even harder than publishing them. Below is a tweet I am having trouble posting on Twitter tonight.  It has the link for this article you can use to share it.

@Google @prisonvalley @OceanOfGrace @vlu77 @AP Illinois Pleased God: DP Abolition http://hubpages.com/hub/Illinois-Pleased-God-DP-Abolition

God gave me the solution to abolish capital punishment and correct many other injustices by using united consumer power: BOYCOTT 4 JUSTICE - No Shopping on the 9th of any month throughout 2011. The boycott began March 9. Because of censorship, it may take months for notice of the boycott to spread nationwide. Google "Boycott 4 Justice: No Shopping April 9." The 24-hour shopping moratorium once each month is the people's peaceful, powerful 9/11 response to corporate greed and government misdeeds regarding the death penalty or whatever injustice boycott participants protest. This is an opportunity to unite with millions of Americans and protest injustices without leaving home or missing work.

The love of money is the root of ALL evil. Human and civil rights activists and groups organize marches, hold rallies, and make impassioned pleas for decades about needed changes, but unless and until there is a financial consequence for wrongdoing, elitist decision makers cannot hear us. Shopping boycotts were successful during the civil rights movement. Worker strikes that caused corporations to lose money won the 40-hour work week and safer work environments during the labor movement. Unethical business practices must be addressed financially. BOYCOTT 4 JUSTICE participants can help announce the shopping moratorium or remain anonymous. Imagine a day when Americans purchase no food, gasoline, clothes, electronics, cars, and stop online shopping! A one-day shopping boycott will not irreparably harm our fragile economy, but it will speak volumes to decision makers who seemingly care more about profits than people. Collective bargaining still works.

As Moses asked, "Who is on the LORD's side?"

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* Brandon Rhode's race was mentioned because many people, including some who profess Christ, have not embraced Galatians 3:28.

Blessings,

Mary Neal