The State Is Too Eager to Kill

Two recent news stories about executions have made me think. One is about Christa Pike, and the other is about Nidal Hasan. Both individuals are convicted murderers who committed heinous crimes. Their stories reminded me of a quote from The Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien (George Allen & Unwin). The wizard Gandalf said it to a young hobbit, Frodo, about a vicious creature called Gollum. Frodo had told Gandalf that Gollum was a vile thing that deserved death. Gandalf answered:

“Deserves it! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.”

I am of the opinion that our government leaders cannot be counted among the very wise, and it is clear that they are quite willing to deal out death. The war with Iran is just the most glaring example of this bloodlust. The two cases I mentioned are also instances of an institutional desire to kill.

Christa Pike was sentenced to death in 1996. She spent nearly 30 years in solitary confinement. What is it like to be in the hole that long, knowing that you are going to be killed eventually? The state of Tennessee recently attempted to execute her, and state officials botched it.

So now what happens? The woman is back in prison. Will the state try to execute her again? When is enough “enough”? When does the need for justice become vengeance? When does the rule of law become sadism?

Does she deserve to die? Undoubtedly. Is it right for the state to attempt another execution? I don’t think so.

Nidal Hasan is due to be executed by firing squad. Does he deserve that punishment? Yes. Does it make sense to do so? I don’t know. I don’t think it will deter others who wish to commit acts of terrorism. If anything, livestreaming Hasan’s execution would instantly make him a martyr to those who wish to emulate him. Has Secretary Hegseth thought about that? Does he “see all ends”? Probably not.

We imagine our culture and our nation to be civilized. Public executions are not hallmarks of civilized countries. In some ways, we are enlightened, and we can be examples to the rest of the world. However, our addiction to violence is a corrosive element in our society. It is causing us to slowly descend into barbarism.

_____________________________

Frank Pauc is a former Army aviator, a longtime trucking-company supervisor, and a contributor to The Havok Journal. A West Point graduate from the Class of 1980, he completed the Military Intelligence Basic Course and flight school, served with the 3rd Armored Division in West Germany and the 7th Infantry Division at Fort Ord, and left the Army in 1986. He later taught citizenship classes through Voces de la Frontera in Milwaukee, took part in peace and protest work, and writes largely about veterans, family, grief, and the long aftermath of military service.

As the Voice of the Veteran Community, The Havok Journal seeks to publish a variety of perspectives on a number of sensitive subjects. Unless specifically noted otherwise, nothing we publish is an official point of view of The Havok Journal or any part of the U.S. government.