The cruelest punishment of all
Aug. 19th, 2005 10:08 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pegkerrI was reading an article about Dennis Rader, the BTK killer who has just been sent off to spend the rest of his miserable life in prison. This paragraph caught my eye:
There was discussion on this entry yesterday about the question of redemption in those who have committed grievous crimes. I can think of some who did perhaps redeem themselves in prison (e.g., Robert Stroud, the so-called Birdman of Alcatraz); one commonality between them is that they were allowed to read and write, which allowed them to reflect upon their actions and imagine a better outlet for their passions, even if, like Robert Stroud, it could only be in a small thing, like canaries.
Discuss.
Prosecutors asked the judge at sentencing to recommend Rader be barred from seeing or listening to news reports regarding his murders, prohibited from possessing anything with which he could draw or write about his sexual fantasies, and disallowed from making audio or visual recordings other than for law enforcement purposes.If this prohibition stands, I wonder if this means he will be prevented from writing anything at all for the rest of his life. The death penalty is terrible (and I don't believe in it), prison for life is terrible. But being prevented from writing for the rest of my life would be, to me, unimaginable, perhaps the cruelest punishment of all.
The prosecution request surprised defense attorneys, who said they have not had time to research the issue.
There was discussion on this entry yesterday about the question of redemption in those who have committed grievous crimes. I can think of some who did perhaps redeem themselves in prison (e.g., Robert Stroud, the so-called Birdman of Alcatraz); one commonality between them is that they were allowed to read and write, which allowed them to reflect upon their actions and imagine a better outlet for their passions, even if, like Robert Stroud, it could only be in a small thing, like canaries.
Discuss.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2005-08-19 11:40 pm (UTC)My only opinion is that if I were one of the victim's family members, I sure as hell would not want Rader to be able to have any creative outlet whatsoever. He ended so many lives and I don't think he deserves to have a life with creative mental stimulation. I truly hope he does makes peace with himself and with God, but like copperwise said, he can do that through prayer and meditation. If I were one of the family members, I wouldn't even want the possibility to be there for him to conjure up any fanatsies.