Change Of Heart

I've had a couple of them, as regards capital punishment.

When I was a liberal, of course, I opposed it. When I became a conservative, I inherited a bit of support for the death penalty.

Then, for years, I was opposed, based on only one thing; the likelihood of a mistake. I thought - and still think - that it's better to spring everyone from death row than to execute the wrong person, although life without parole was probably a more reasonable compromise.

Today, I think I'm coming around:

The body of an 11-year-old girl whose abduction was captured by a surveillance camera has been found and a mechanic has been charged with her murder, officials said today.

Sarasota County Sheriff Bill Balkwill refused to say where Carlie Brucia was found, saying it is an active crime scene.

He said Joseph P. Smith, 37, has been charged with her murder. He is believed to be the tattooed man in a mechanic's shirt who was seen in a car wash surveillance video leading Carlie away by the arm Sunday evening, authorities said.

I have a hunch Governor Pawlenty's death penalty proposal is headed for an initiative and referendum. So - if you are a pervert who likes to kill young girls, you might want to tell all your friends to cheese it until after the election. I have a hunch I'm not the only usually-anti-death-penalty voter who's getting a taste for the blood of vermin.

You can call it society's revenge if you'd like. I think I could stand behind that.

Posted by Mitch at February 6, 2004 07:25 AM