In the proceeding days after the horrific killings in Newark, N.J., leaders in the law enforcement community began to take a serious stance against crime. The Essex County Sheriff and New Jersey Attorney General were the most boisterous individuals to speak out. The Essex County Sheriff reported that he would be willing to suspend the constitution to apprehend the felons responsible for the execution style killings of the Newark students. The Attorney General went so far as to enact legislation to have "alleged" illegal aliens questioned regarding their immigration status if they are arrested. It appears that reaction is in vogue rather than proaction. Communities must step up and fight for their right to live in a crime free environment. It's your decision, what are you going to do?
" Do not be a casual observer in the game of life; get in the game." Dr. BLR.
This blog was created solely for my students to generate intellectual dialogue with their classmates. Reach one and teach one. Peace.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Monday, August 13, 2007
Kill another criminal or the law gone awry.
The State of Texas is at it again. In the coming days another person of color will be killed due to the death penalty. For the record, the author is against any type of "government sanctioned execution." However, please do not misconstrue this to mean that the author is a bleeding heart liberal . . . more of a vigilante comes to mind; excuse the digression.
Some facts on the case:
Kenneth Foster Jr., was just 19-years-old when Mauriceo Brown, a passenger in the car Foster was driving, shot Michael LaHood in San Antonio more than a decade ago. New testimony shows that Foster did not play a major role in the crime. Though Foster, Brown, Julius Steen, and Dewayne Dillard, were all traveling together that night and had committed two armed robberies prior to LaHood's murder, Steen and Dillard have stated that Foster could not have anticipated the crime. Brown, who was executed for the murder in 2006, also said that Foster did not know he was planning to kill LaHood. The men all maintain that Foster, who had borrowed the car from his grandfather, repeatedly pleaded with the group to go home before they encountered LaHood. He also tried to drive away when he heard the gunshots, but Steen and Dillard made him stop and wait for Brown. Steen received a 35-year-to-life sentence for the crime, and Dillard was given a life sentence. Foster was sentenced to death under the Texas Law of Parties that permits a person involved in a crime to be held accountable for the actions committed by someone else.
The punishment does not fit the crime, but the courts feel otherwise. This case is reminiscent of the movie "Minority Report" starring Tom Cruise, no pun intended with the title. The premise for the movie is that law enforcement has the ability to anticipate what a criminal is going to do and take them into custody before actually committing the crime. The intentions are good, but a bit premature in the execution. The same case can be made for the television program "To catch a predator." The intentions are good, but entrapment is not the answer.
The courts rendered an appropriate decision regarding the killer and the other accomplices. What happened to Mr. Foster? Mr. Foster is what is called an example. This is a very strong message that the courts are sending to potential criminals. Will it be a deterrent? If the death penalty has not done so by now, this decision will not make any difference.
Update: The Governor of Texas gave a stay of execution to Mr. Foster and commuted his sentence to life in prison. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed. Now this man will have a long time to think about how he was given a second chance at life. Let's hope he will do something special with the rest of his life.
Some facts on the case:
Kenneth Foster Jr., was just 19-years-old when Mauriceo Brown, a passenger in the car Foster was driving, shot Michael LaHood in San Antonio more than a decade ago. New testimony shows that Foster did not play a major role in the crime. Though Foster, Brown, Julius Steen, and Dewayne Dillard, were all traveling together that night and had committed two armed robberies prior to LaHood's murder, Steen and Dillard have stated that Foster could not have anticipated the crime. Brown, who was executed for the murder in 2006, also said that Foster did not know he was planning to kill LaHood. The men all maintain that Foster, who had borrowed the car from his grandfather, repeatedly pleaded with the group to go home before they encountered LaHood. He also tried to drive away when he heard the gunshots, but Steen and Dillard made him stop and wait for Brown. Steen received a 35-year-to-life sentence for the crime, and Dillard was given a life sentence. Foster was sentenced to death under the Texas Law of Parties that permits a person involved in a crime to be held accountable for the actions committed by someone else.
The punishment does not fit the crime, but the courts feel otherwise. This case is reminiscent of the movie "Minority Report" starring Tom Cruise, no pun intended with the title. The premise for the movie is that law enforcement has the ability to anticipate what a criminal is going to do and take them into custody before actually committing the crime. The intentions are good, but a bit premature in the execution. The same case can be made for the television program "To catch a predator." The intentions are good, but entrapment is not the answer.
The courts rendered an appropriate decision regarding the killer and the other accomplices. What happened to Mr. Foster? Mr. Foster is what is called an example. This is a very strong message that the courts are sending to potential criminals. Will it be a deterrent? If the death penalty has not done so by now, this decision will not make any difference.
Update: The Governor of Texas gave a stay of execution to Mr. Foster and commuted his sentence to life in prison. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed. Now this man will have a long time to think about how he was given a second chance at life. Let's hope he will do something special with the rest of his life.
"The weak and defenseless need someone to illuminate their concerns." Dr. BLR
Monday, August 6, 2007
The violence continues.
Words cannot express the sorrow that is felt when a loved one passes away. However, the violent death of a loved one leaves you feeling empty. The recent execution style deaths of three Newark residents has left a family asking why. The Newark Police Department and Mayor are baffled at why these senseless killings continue to happen. At first glance, anyone living in Newark can understand that violence has always been endemic to inner cities; so these deaths are not an aberration. The jobless rates are rather high. Violent crimes are high. Drug usage and abuse is rampant. So why is there an unbelievability about these particular murders? The reason is that this was not supposed to happen to these students. From all accounts, these were three college students who had made the decision to better themselves. They were in preparation to either return to or start college. With the summer almost coming to an end, they were just enjoying themselves before continuing their educational endeavors.
No one knows what goes through the mind of a killer, but there is no doubt that whomever is responsible for these murders have serious mental issues. The investigation is ongoing and the facts will ultimately become available. Regardless, these students did not deserve to meet their untimely deaths. The leadership in Newark needs to look in the mirror and ask themselves, "Are we doing enough?" The answer should be a resounding "NO". The political and police corruption is what is driving a lot of the crime in Newark. If the residents see the leaders not playing by the rules, then why should they. The problems of Newark, and any inner city for that matter, will continue to occur until an effort is made to build upon the foundation. . . the people.
Update: The alleged suspects have been apprehended and it appears that the "black on black" theory has been dispelled. It seems that crime does not discriminate. Now let's wait and see what new theory will surface to explain the inevitable that poverty, capitalism, and racism exacerbates the problem of criminality.
" Your destiny is predicated upon your decisions in life, regardless of what they are." Dr. BLR
No one knows what goes through the mind of a killer, but there is no doubt that whomever is responsible for these murders have serious mental issues. The investigation is ongoing and the facts will ultimately become available. Regardless, these students did not deserve to meet their untimely deaths. The leadership in Newark needs to look in the mirror and ask themselves, "Are we doing enough?" The answer should be a resounding "NO". The political and police corruption is what is driving a lot of the crime in Newark. If the residents see the leaders not playing by the rules, then why should they. The problems of Newark, and any inner city for that matter, will continue to occur until an effort is made to build upon the foundation. . . the people.
Update: The alleged suspects have been apprehended and it appears that the "black on black" theory has been dispelled. It seems that crime does not discriminate. Now let's wait and see what new theory will surface to explain the inevitable that poverty, capitalism, and racism exacerbates the problem of criminality.
" Your destiny is predicated upon your decisions in life, regardless of what they are." Dr. BLR
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