California Kills Clarence Ray Allen
So, here it the picture. At around 12:30 this morning personnel at San Quentin prison readied for an execution. On his 76th birthday, Clarence Ray Allen was brought to the threshold of the death chamber in his wheelchair. Four large correctional officers lifted him onto the table where health care professionals inserted the needles for the gruesome task. I wonder if they sanitized the needles, or rubbed alcohol onto his arm before insertion? Why? If they had instructions for Mr. Allen, he was not able to hear them because he was deaf. Whether there were supporters present for encouragement, or opponents present to witness final revenge, he was not able to see them because he was blind. After 23 years spent on death row, this old man was killed by the state at 12:38 a.m.
From what I can gather, this was not a nice man. He was a bully who intimidated others to do his dirty deeds. He was a petty thief. And he was a killer. He executed his son's 17-year-old girlfriend because she was witness to one of his crimes. From behind bars he orchestrated the brutal murders of three others. So if anyone deserves to be killed for revenge, it is this sad excuse for humanity. Heck, if he had done the likes to someone I love, with opportunity perhaps I would be willing to pull the trigger and end his miserable life. It would be an act of revenge. But I would do so knowing I would not be able to excuse it before God. And it seems to me the State, representing civil society, must act upon a higher standard of morality than revenge. Justice, sure. But not legally sanctioned murder, masquerading as justice. To me, this man would recieve a much more severe punishment by being locked way, deep in San Quentin for the rest of his life. And it seems to me doubly cruel to arrange for him to spend most of his adult life behind bars, and then to execute him as a wasted old man. If the death penalty is justice, then the greatest of mercy would be to make it swift.
I understand, several months ago, this old man had a heart attack. At the time he was awaiting execution. It was inevitable that poison would be pumped into his veins to stop his beating heart. As the heart attack was a natural way to end his life, then why in the world did the State take action to save him? Really, why did they give him medicine for his diabetes? Wouldn't a diabetic coma do just as thorough of a job as a death needle?
And I wonder about the heart of the physician who turns the knob allowing the flow of death juice into the body of Clarence Ray Allen. Did not this educated and refined pillar of our society take the Hippocratic Oath? I guess that's optional in this day and time. On the equally controversial subject of abortion, I want the choice of our society to be Life. And I have to place this physician on the same plane with the abortionist.
I do not know if Clarence Ray Allen went to heaven. His first wife said he was "saved" and "called to preach" as a young man. Four people with bullet holes in their heads would probably differ. But as truly ugly as was this man, he was still "made in the image of God". It is not very heavenly to kill him in the name of the State, and expecially in the name of God.
01.17.06 (10:51 am) [
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posted by:
irishred (
reply)
post date:
01.17.06 (6:06 am)
Pastor Dave,
This is a tough one for me because I simply cannot understand why it took so long for the execution to go through in the first place. I am not against these executions (this convict for all intents and purposes had three people executed). What I am against is the length of time it takes to see it through. They waited this long and he was in failing health. Why not just let him die in prison? He already had served what was a life sentence. Sometimes I wonder about the logic of these executions. Not the actual idea of them, but the logic.
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
01.17.06 (6:17 am)
Well put. Of course I take issue with the abortion parallel, but, so be it.
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
01.17.06 (6:20 am)
another thing... I just read that the figure is up to 170 cases overturned in the last few years because of new DNA evidence including a couple where the people exonerated have already been executed...
posted by:
bacardibreezer (
reply)
post date:
01.17.06 (6:28 am)
I'm not a fan of the death penalty because it's sort of the easy way out. They die quickly and easily. I think if you make someone work hard and be punished for the rest of their life, it's worse, as they know everyone else is out there living their lives while that person has to sit in jail. I do however, in some cases think people can turn around and be let out. But a guy like that, I'd keep in jail for life.
posted by:
LadyG (
reply)
post date:
01.17.06 (7:00 am)
Excellent post Pastor Dave. I agree with you, I couldn't have said it better.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.17.06 (7:35 am)
Reply to:irishred
It seems your problem is with the timing of the execution. The seemingly endless appeals process seems to make a circus of the matter after awhile. If the state insists upon the right to kill a man, then don't take 25 years to do it. If there is a question about whether he deserves to die, then settle that question, or don't kill him.
Thanks, and welcome aboard.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.17.06 (7:38 am)
reply to: surrogate
170 cases? 1 is too many. And, justice is not executed equally. A far higher proportion of the poor, black, and male are executed. If you can afford a high-priced lawyer, if you are physically attractive, and if you are able to effectively persuade others, then you are less likely to be executed.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.17.06 (7:40 am)
reply to:
bacardibreezer
Easy way out- to die? To have electricity shot through your body, or have your blood poisoned by injection?
I do agree somewhat with your thinking. Mostly, the only ones executed these day are those who basically choose to use the system for suicide. they give up, stop their appeals, and willingly accept their fate. I'm not sure we should give the criminal the right to suicide.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.17.06 (7:44 am)
reply to:
LadyG
Thanks. You could probably say it better!
The death penalty is not a deterrant to crime, as it is currently exercised. Now if we had public executions, like in the old days. Invite the family for a picnic, have the bands playing, and execute the criminal in the public square- then maybe it would be a shocking visual lesson. But really, hasn't our civilization advanced to a higher degree? Maybe not.
posted by:
ruined (
reply)
post date:
01.17.06 (12:17 pm)
On the other hand, one has to wonder if this man welcomed death... looked forward to it as an ending to the suffering his sickness brought upon him. And if that's the case, and his heart was as hardened as the days he committed those crimes, perhaps it would have been more fitting to keep him alive...
posted by:
LadyVenom (
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post date:
01.17.06 (1:43 pm)
Ask me the question wether or not this man should live 10yrs ago I would have said let him die! No hesitation! Then again I thought I knew everything. I now know only one thing..that I know nothing! I believe we can hour our own opinions and make decisions, but in the end we face our Creator. Like you said how can we justify the taking of someones life? Well I can't think of one way. Even if someone claims to be saved, we can't know the ultimate truth only God can. I prefer to leave my life in His hands and what comes to me He will guide me through it if I am faithful.
DUDE AM I GLAD I LIVE IN CANADA! I would detest to be chosen to be on a jury that had the death penalty as an option!
posted by:
sweetsue (
reply)
post date:
01.17.06 (3:37 pm)
Very good post as always pastor...I will say how can after all these years and this man's health..now excute him..he deserved excution yes..but years back when his health was better..now it was just I am sure a blessing to him...as for the system..was it now just revenge.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.17.06 (3:49 pm)
reply to:
ruined
I don't know that he welcomed death. He was seemingly tireless in his pursuit of an appeal, or at least his lawyers were. And I agree, a lifetime in prison without possibility of parole would be severe and fitting punishment. I'd rather die.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.17.06 (3:52 pm)
reply to:
LadyVenom
Growth and maturity does that to us, doesn't it- leads us to realize how very much we do not know!
If you oppose the death penalty, no doubt you would quickly be disqualified from such a case.
There seem to be alot of you Canadians on t-blog. Thanks for the good comments.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.17.06 (3:54 pm)
reply to:
sweetsue
Maybe he deserved to die, but I think the state should act in a manner more noble than the crowd.
posted by:
javageek (
reply)
post date:
01.18.06 (9:32 am)
The injustice here is that it took them so many years to do it. May as well have just given him life for all the good the death penalty did. In any case, since he murdered people in prison I think he was a mad dog that needed to be put down. I am usually 50-50 in my feelings on this topic but not this time.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.18.06 (11:02 am)
Reply to: javageek
"...mad dog that needed to be put down."
I can absolutely understand the emotion behind such a statement. This seems obviously to have been a bad, bad man. But, we cannot treat people like animals, even when they act the part. True, you put down a mad dog. But this is a human being.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.18.06 (11:03 am)
Reply to: PastorDave
This is a test. Let's see if I get notified of this reply with a popup, as did the old t-blog. I love that feature, and want it to continue.
posted by:
preceptlady (
reply)
post date:
01.18.06 (6:30 pm)
Good Picture PD. I like it.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.18.06 (7:16 pm)
Reply to: preceptlady
Well thanks. That's a pretty good looking family, if I say so myself. Why this bunch hangs around with me is a puzzle. But, I am blessed.
posted by:
Rand (
reply)
post date:
01.23.06 (11:18 am)
Hi Pastor Dave..
Clarence Ray Allen was from y home town.. in fact the killing were committed about 8 miles from my house.. Weird but true
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.24.06 (10:04 am)
That is quite a coincidence. Are you familiar with the details of the crime, and of his life?
