Squad Urges Biden to Commute Death Row Sentences

 

U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) and other members of the progressive "Squad" are doubling down on their call for President Biden to end Federal executions and commute the sentences of 49 death-row inmates currently in federal prisons.

This is, of course, a reaction to Trump's revival of federal executions and the 13 executions carried out in the final months of Trump's term as President. I can certainly agree with congresswoman Pressley's desire to stop capital punishment in the United States, but as I pointed out in a blog post written last month, I would feel much better if Pressley's idea of "pro-life" extended to the unborn as well.

I know it is difficult for some to feel merciful toward convicted murderers. Going that step forward isn't always easy. However, I cannot understand how one can feel compassion toward those on death row and still have a callous attitude toward unborn human beings.

In a letter to President Biden, Democrats wrote,

"We believe that rebuilding the dignity of America requires that we recommit ourselves to the tradition of due process, mercy, and judicial clemency when it comes to matters related to the criminal legal system". Yet, there is no "due process, mercy or clemency" for the unborn.

In their letter, Democrats also claimed that President Trump left behind a legacy of "carnage and unrestrained violence" because of the number of executions in the last months of his presidency. True enough, but do they not see the legacy of carnage in the 62 million abortions that have been carried out in the U.S. since the Roe vs Wade decision of 1973?

When Pressley's fellow Democrat, Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) expressed sympathy for the 13 death row inmates executed under Trump (including one self identified white supremacist) Bush's supporters applauded her for having a consistent approach to opposing the death penalty.

I wish her approach to all life was as consistent.

Ayanna Pressley's Contradictory Views on Human Life

 

There was a time,many years ago, when I supported the death penalty. I've changed my mind, thanks to the teachings of Pope John Paul II. Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis have followed his lead in condemning capital punishment.

Pope Francis wrote:

"Saint John Paul II stated clearly and firmly that the death penalty is inadequate from a moral standpoint and no longer necessary from that of penal justice. There can be no stepping back from this position. Today we state clearly that ‘the death penalty is inadmissible’ and the Church is firmly committed to calling for its abolition worldwide."

It's been recently reported that dozens of Democrats have called on the incoming Biden administration to end federal executions once Biden is inaugurated. Considering the fact that the US Justice Department has restarted the practice of federal executions after a 17-year hiatus, I see that as a step in the right direction. President Trump has done many positive things in the area of criminal justice reform, but restarting federal executions certainly wasn't one of those.

One of the Democrats calling for the end of federal executions is Massachusetts congresswoman Ayanna Pressley .

"Ending the barbaric and inhumane practice of government-sanctioned murder is a commonsense step that you can and must take to save lives," said Pressley in a letter to Joe Biden.

A link to Congresswoman Pressley's letter to the POTUS elect can be found on her Congressional webpage.

Unfortunately, also found the the Congresswoman's webpage is a letter calling for eliminating the Hyde Amendment. Sadly, in spite of her call for ending the death penalty, Ayanna Pressley is overwhelmingly pro-abortion. She believes abortion care is health care and that health care is a fundamental human right.

As someone who is pro-life, I know that it is difficult for many who oppose abortion to accept the killing of innocent human beings while ending the death penalty for obviously guilty offenders.

Pressley would get much more help from the pro-life community if her stance on abortion was as "pro-life" as her stance on capital punishment. Obviously, Pressley holds "two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values at the same time" which would be a case of Cognitive dissonance if she felt any stress or anxiety over having those contradictory views.