Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting
Last week in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, A 46-year-old named Robert Bowers shot up the Tree of Life Congregation synagogue. As he sprayed the congregation he shouted hate speech and massacred 11 people in a 20-minute span. Police were notified at 9:54 am. He was charged with 29 federal accounts.
Bowers history:
Robert Bowers is a 46-year-old long haul truck driver who was known to have extreme feelings towards minorities and in this case specifically Jews. On social media, he had multiple posts expressing hate crime including a recent one where he had attacked the (HIAS) Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society " for bringing "invaders in that kill our people". His account also expressed that he hadn't voted for Trump due to the feeling that he was too soft on Jewish people. Although his online presence was toxic his neighbors felt that he was a regular guy who had lived with his grandfather for a while and would make small talk about flowers and weeds like anyone else.
The Verdict:
Bowers took the life of 11 people that fateful Saturday morning, along with 2 more people being injured and to 4 police officers. The US attorney is seeking a death penalty case against Bowers but needs the Attorney Generals approval of this. Trump and Sessions are close and agree on a lot. Trump spoke out and agreed with the US attorney on the death penalty charge so it will most likely go through.
I, however, feel like Bowers does not deserve the death penalty. I feel like the death penalty is misused. Instead of ending their lives, something they probably want, it would be better if they were punished with life in prison. Where they would have to deal with their actions for the rest of their lives. I feel like the Death penalty is used too frequently.
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Bowers history:
Robert Bowers is a 46-year-old long haul truck driver who was known to have extreme feelings towards minorities and in this case specifically Jews. On social media, he had multiple posts expressing hate crime including a recent one where he had attacked the (HIAS) Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society " for bringing "invaders in that kill our people". His account also expressed that he hadn't voted for Trump due to the feeling that he was too soft on Jewish people. Although his online presence was toxic his neighbors felt that he was a regular guy who had lived with his grandfather for a while and would make small talk about flowers and weeds like anyone else.
Bowers took the life of 11 people that fateful Saturday morning, along with 2 more people being injured and to 4 police officers. The US attorney is seeking a death penalty case against Bowers but needs the Attorney Generals approval of this. Trump and Sessions are close and agree on a lot. Trump spoke out and agreed with the US attorney on the death penalty charge so it will most likely go through.
I, however, feel like Bowers does not deserve the death penalty. I feel like the death penalty is misused. Instead of ending their lives, something they probably want, it would be better if they were punished with life in prison. Where they would have to deal with their actions for the rest of their lives. I feel like the Death penalty is used too frequently.
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i somewhat agree i think that a death penalty might not be the best solution and maybe prison for life might be a better solution but i think they brought this up because there has been already too many shootings in America over the past decades and has been happening frequently that i think they are now starting to consider the death penalty on this man.
ReplyDeleteIm so sick of hearing about another mass shooting and wish they would all end. It shocks me every time that people think its ok to go and kill 11 people for any reason. The fact that it is religiously motivated makes it even worse because we live in america with freedom of religion and everyone who is in church or their holy place should not have to worry about someone killing them while they are in there. At the end of the day death penalty or not its sad to see this much ignorance tearing families apart.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the death penalty is not the best solution to this. Why this is obviously a horrible man who needs to be severely punished and removed from society, it shouldn't be up to anyone who lives and who dies. I believe we should abolish the death penalty completely, even in cases like this where the defendant is clearly guilty and clearly among the worst of the worst of society. If this man doesn't deserve to be killed, no one does.
ReplyDeleteIt is incredibly disheartening that our current society has enabled the perpetuation of antisemitic and bigoted views. I believe that there is an underlying issue within our social construct that needs to be resolved. Whether that be an increased level of inequality which leads individuals to scapegoat certain groups or it is due to a lack of education. We must get to the root of the issue in order to prevent these despicable crimes.
ReplyDeleteGiven the gravity of this crime, I feel as though this is the scenario for which the death penalty was created. The death penalty is for people who committ the most heinous crimes. They dont deserve to live, or waste prison space. The only concern with the death penalty is killing innocent people. However in this scenario that he committed a hate crime that resulted in a 1st degree mass murder. For this reason, the death penalty is justified.
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