This past year, in a movie theater in Colorado, a young man entered, and fulfilled his plan to shoot and kill as many people as he could. We all know the story of James Holmes, who's trial is going on as I write. There is no understanding of why anyone would commit such a heinous crime.
While the trial will go over every known detail of the crime and the planning, there are a few things we should understand. Holmes had a very reasonable expectation of several things in the course of committing this act.
1. Holmes had reason to believe that there would be no one armed inside the theater. The theater was posted to forbid firearms, as Holmes knew before he got there that day. Holmes had been to that theater before, planning his horrific deed, and KNEW the theater was posted for no firearms. So Holmes had every expectation that he would not have to be confronted by an armed citizen. Holmes KNEW he could do as he pleased, at least until the police arrived.
2. When Holmes calculated the arrival of the police, he exited the theater, and waited. Holmes KNEW he would be arrested, but with him remaining compliant, he would not be hurt and would be treated professionally by the police. Holmes was compliant, and did not give them any reason to hurt him.
3. Holmes KNEW this would make huge headlines, and he would become famous, or infamous as it is. In some twisted circles, he knew there would be a following. The headlines, the TV coverage, the stories to be written, would lift him high on the notoriety podium. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't expect fan mail, and even some girlfriends to write him.
4. Holmes KNEW he would be given a fair trial, and knew it would be drawn out as long as his lawyers could make it, thus enhancing his reliving his deeds. And the notoriety would continue all the while he would remain safe from harm in the jail facility. Because that's what our very civil, very humane, society does.
5. Holmes also knows he will be convicted, and will go to prison as a cult hero of sorts, at least until he is put to death. Until then, he may have 13 years, or even many more, to await the sleepy civilized injection of death. So he KNOWS that during all that time, he can have his prepared meals, reasonable access to sunlight, recreation, library privileges, health care, and TV.
Holmes KNOWS these things, because we have a just and fair judicial system, and humane penal systems that make sure that ALL his civil and human rights are afforded to him. And all the while, he can write, be interviewed, and have his exploits live on for decades to come.
Yep, Holmes counted on all these things. And when all of his appeals end, and that needle goes into his arm, we will sit back and proudly profess that "the system worked". Well, it ONLY worked for Holmes. And, it'll work for the next nut-bag who follows in his footsteps. But if it up to me, I'd change that. At least, right after his conviction.
While this will be seen as barbaric to many - After his fair trial, and upon a conviction of "Guilty Beyond ALL Doubt" (which there should be such a judgement outcome), I'd put him the electric chair. I'd slowly turn up the juice, as photos of all his victims were on a screen in front of him. I'd time his slow execution, until all the photos were shown. I'd have his screams echo around the walls of the jail, documented by the media, for all to know that THIS is the cost of such a crime. I doubt that smirk on his face would be there then.
In short, I would want HIS death, to be as horrific as possible. Yes, pretty sick to imagine for many, I'm sure. But we treat such animals so humanely, that there is hardly a fear at all of any real "punishment". I think we're just too damned civilized. And people like Holmes KNOW it. They count on it. (Someone could kill a hundred people in front of TV cameras, and just as the police show up, drop their gun and just give up! Safely!)
Well there should be a FEAR of "punishment". And someone like Holmes, should piss his pants every day of trial, just KNOWING that his end will come like what I described. He should live that FEAR every stinking day he has remaining on this earth. At the very least, we should bring back the electric chair, and fry them! No mercy. The victims received none.
