Sentencing began Tuesday in the trial of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the man convicted of perpetrating the bombing of the Boston Marathon two years ago.
Now that the question of Tsarnaev’s guilt has been decided, the question remains — does the U.S. government execute him in our name?
My first instinct — as I’m sure most people’s would be — is to fry him. This is a man who murdered innocents and terrorized a major U.S. city, and who shows no remorse.
But after the rage subsides, we must reflect. Some of those most involved in the case have.
As Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downs, two victims of the attack who lost limbs, said, “If there is anyone who deserves the ultimate punishment, it is [Tsarnaev]. However, we must overcome the impulse for vengeance.”
A recent poll found the citizens of Boston favor life in prison for Tsarnaev to the death penalty, 61 to 26 percent.
Even the parents of the youngest victim killed in the attack, 8-year-old Martin Richard, have spoken out against seeking the death penalty.
Other victims and their families support the government seeking the death penalty. I can certainly understand why they want Tsarnaev dead. After all, a majority of Americans support killing him. I don’t think emotion should dictate our justice system.
There are many good reasons to oppose the death penalty. It costs more to execute someone than to imprison them for life. There’s little evidence the death penalty deters criminals. People on death row are often wrongly convicted. Executions are botched.
But the most important one, in my opinion, is that it is morally wrong. Even in cases such as Tsarnaev’s, where guilt is clear, remorse is nonexistent and the crimes are extremely heinous, we as a society shouldn’t fall victim to the same hatred that drives those we seek to kill. Revenge is not always justice, however satisfying it may be.
It remains to be seen whether or not Tsarnaev will get the death penalty. But the U.S. government shouldn’t be in the business of murdering people on our behalf, no matter how much they deserve it.