Death penalty was no deterrent to Jason Thornburg’s talk of Bible, ‘sacrifice’ | Opinion
Execution is not a deterrent
Jason Thornburg was indicted in December for the deaths of three people found burning in a Fort Worth dumpster. (May 17, 3A, “Man charged with killing, dismembering 3 faces death penalty”)
The prosecutor says this is the exact type of case in which we seek the death penalty. According to the arrest warrant affidavit, the accused told police detectives that he had in-depth knowledge of the Bible and believed he was being called to commit sacrifices.
Although a judge has ordered a psychological evaluation, this is another case where the death penalty does not serve its intended purpose. If deterrence is our goal, we have failed to achieve it.
Putting a murderer in prison or a state hospital for the mentally ill for life removes that person from society. It is morally wrong for anyone — an individual or the government — to kill under any circumstances.
- Wesley Church, Fort Worth
There’s no saving daylight here
The efforts to make daylight saving time permanent, either just in Texas or throughout the United States, are not well thought out. (March 11, 1A, “Bills would allow Texans to vote on daylight saving time”)
Staying on daylight saving time year-round would leave children awaiting school buses in the cold dark in winter at the start of morning rush hour. Is one hour of sunlight during the evening worth the additional risk?
It would also increase confusion for businesses. In the summer, we are three hours ahead of Arizona, which follows standard time. In the winter, we are two hours ahead.
Does it really need to be light at 9:30 p.m. in June? The argument that it is good for farmers is specious. Commercial farming doesn’t work that late.
Permanent daylight saving time is just a bad idea.
- Charles Andrews, Fort Worth
I paid my loans all by myself
I am appalled that forgiveness of some federal student loan debt is even up for debate. (March 14, 4A, “States look at student debt programs ahead of court case”)
No one forced anyone to take out student loans. The terms of the loans were spelled out when students applied for them, and the definition of a loan is easy to understand.
I lived a no-frills life and paid my entire student loan debt back early. If student loans are forgiven, is there any chance that those of us who paid off their student loans would be reimbursed?
I highly doubt so, but is that fair to those who did the right thing and paid their loans?
- Mark Swanson, Mansfield
Gun violence and America’s future
How does Canada do it? After a 2020 mass shooting in Nova Scotia that left 22 victims dead, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau banned 1,500 types of military-style weapons and began a program to buy semi-automatic rifles from the public. He then crafted other gun restrictions to send to lawmakers.
How does the United States do it? Gun deaths increase, and we send “thoughts and prayers.” Politicians put more National Rifle Association money in their pockets. We allow untrained people to open carry, and we promote a gross misunderstanding of the Second Amendment.
I truly pity the young people entrusted to our care.
- Ann J. Clarkson, Wichita Falls
Ranked-choice voting a bad pick
Bills have been introduced in the Legislature to ban any form of instant runoff — also known as ranked-choice voting — for nonpartisan local elections. These bills are based on a misrepresentation, intentional or not.
Instant runoffs would benefit Republicans. David Perdue in Georgia would have won an instant runoff election in 2020, which would have put the Republicans in the majority in the U.S. Senate. Glenn Youngkin won his election as Virginia governor entirely because of an instant runoff in the GOP primary.
- Don Krause, Fort Worth
What will Tucker erase next?
Fox News host Tucker Carlson has raised the Big Lie to a whole new level by turning 40,000 hours of violent footage from the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection into a five-minute video of a bunch of peaceful tourists just taking a tour of the Capitol. (Letters, March 5, 4C)
I imagine that Carlson’s next project after banning books about the brutal history of slavery will be to show that slaves were so grateful to plantation owners for giving them food and shelter that they happily cooked, cleaned and labored in the cotton fields from sunrise to sunset.
- Sharon Austry, Fort Worth
