Is Waiting Cruel and Unusual?
Barney Fuller is scheduled to die on Wednesday October 5, 2016. The 58 year old Texan has publicly admitted that he is responsible for the murder of Nathan and Annette Copeland, whom he gunned down with an AR-15 rifle following a dispute over an electric transformer. Witness testimony claims that his last words to Annette Copeland before firing at her were “party’s over, bitch”. He is also guilty of emotionally scarring the Copelands’ two children, both of whom witnessed the murders and one of which was actually wounded. He prived the Copeland couple of their lives, and their children of a healthy childhood. Barney Fuller is not a good man. He pleaded guilty to his crimes and was put on death row by a jury of his peers. That was 12 years ago.
Since 2004, Mr. Fuller has been looking forward to the day he dies. According to his sister, he is a firm believer in the “eye for an eye” mentality when it comes to punishment, and has acknowledged that he deserves to be put to death for what he did. From the very beginning, Fuller ordered his lawyer not to challenge the jury’s decision and has gone on record saying that he has no issues with his sentence and was ready to move on. He is strongly opposed to any appeals that might prolong his time at death row, but they never fail to show up at the last minute. Nathan Copeland’s father, David, has also been waiting for Fuller’s punishment for over a decade, but he is still uncertain that October 5th will actually be his last day on Earth. He is convinced another appeal will pop up and the sentence will be postponed yet again.
The issue of whether Barney Fuller deserves to be executed, or whether anyone deserves that punishment at all, are not the issue I want to bring up. This is clearly a broken man, who believes himself to be beyond redemption and who would, given the chance, probably end his life on his own. He has had a dozen years to come to terms with the fact that he is going to be killed. However, is this endless postponing of the inevitable fair to him? What kind of torture could possibly be worse than lingering on knowing the world hates you, knowing that you have committed an unforgivable crime, and wishing beyond anything else to be dead but being able to do nothing about it. The impotence of his situation alone would drive anyone mad, to say nothing of having the death of two innocent people on your conscience. Fuller’s sister has said that “Rory” was tormented by emotional demons since he was very young. Those demons are probably preying on him right now, unrelentlessly punishing him day in and day out for what he’s done. Whether hell is real or not, it is hard to argue that Barney Fuller hasn’t been in hell for the past twelve years. Regardless of your view on the morality of the death penalty, the morality is being on death row for eternity seems like an equally important issue that is hardly addressed. Barney Fuller is scheduled to die on October 5, 2016, and I sincerely hope he does.
To hear that his sentence has been postponed several times is truly disturbing. Death in its own is one of the greatest, if not the greatest psychological hurdle in human life, and this circumstance must be the most physiologically dehumanizing event. Given that he has accepted his faith and wrongdoings, and has committed a crime only capable by a beast, it is right for him to die and die today. I'll follow up on the current news, as this date has passed, but if not for him, I certainly hope it happens for the sake of the children. To have closure.
ReplyDeleteI agree that is infuriating that Fuller's death penalty date keeps getting postponed. But I think the injustice of the delay is almost more of a burden for the innocent people that were involved, including the children of the murdered couple. The children who were scarred by their parent's murder have been emotionally dragged and burdened by this case for over a decade. I can only imagine the relief they will feel once the death penalty is finally exercised.
ReplyDeleteHonestly part of me thinks that maybe he deserves to keep having his death penalty postponed. You said yourself, Fuller is looking forward to his death because he sees it as an escape. My personal view is that death is not the worst penalty one can give someone but maybe this transitions over into cruel and unusual punishments that is outlawed in the 8th amendment.
ReplyDeleteI do not think this is just. Not only is the death penalty immoral, being forced to wait to be killed is immoral.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, if one admits to a terrible crime, they should be killed quickly. Of course if they do not admit to the crime and insist that they are innocent, they should be able to appeal the decision.
Essentially, I agree with you. It is very cruel to keep people on death row...especially when they admit their guilt.
This is a tricky area because a lot of things are being assumed. I'm not sure we can really say that the postponement of his death is necessarily causing him trauma. LikeKate said, this is obviously upsetting to the children of the victims who want to see justice being served. But think about it this way. It is possible Fuller might have forgiven himself for his actions knowing that his "eye for an eye" will ultimately come. As long as the death penalty goes through, whether it's now or later, he will consider himself repented.
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