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No Clemency for Tookie

Tookie Williams, now 51, was sentenced to death in 1981 after he was found guilty of murdering four people during two separate robberies two years earlier.

Williams was convicted for the murders of Albert Owens, Tsai-Shai Yang, Yen-I Yang, and Yee Chen Lin, which took place in 1979 during two separate robberies. During the robberies Williams shot Owens twice in the back of the head, execution style, and shot the Yang family up close with a shotgun, at point-blank range.

So I have a question. Why is there a question as to whether or not this man should die? There are those who say he has reformed, and I am happy for him if that is the case, but it hardly excuses those bestial actions taken by him all those years ago. It would be different if there was some provocation, or a question of self defense. Those elements were not present. Tookie made a choice -- he aggressively took the lives of four people. When you make a choice, you have to face the consequences. I am extremely disappointed in Arnold Schwarzenegger. He should not even give the appearance of considering clemency. If I were the Governator, when the predators' advocates groups started calling for clemency, I would have immediately started work to expedite the execution. But that's just me. I don't think you should be able to aggressively take the life of another and get away with it.

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2 Comments:

Anonymous said...: This is what happens when humans let their emotions run rampant and become forgetful. When they only remember what happened most recently. They seem to remember all the nice and fuzzy stuff he did but forget how he mercilessly kill four people.; 12/16/2005 4:04 PM
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The Sovereign Editor said...: I didn't follow up on this story like I should have. I am proud of the Governator. It took him awhile, but in the end, he acted like a man and a true leader. Tookie was denied clemency and executed.

Honestly, what is the point of having Arnold Schwarzenegger as your governor if he isn't going to be a man and make the hard decisions? Any sheep can follow the crowd. It takes a real leader to make unpopular decisions, even if they're the right decisions.

If there were grounds for reasonable doubt in Tookie's case, I would have supported the granting of clemency on those grounds.

To be a leader, you have to do what's right, especially when it's unpopular. Schwarzenegger showed us that he has what it takes. But can he keep it up and apply that attitude fto other areas of his governance? This remains to be seen.; 12/25/2005 3:05 AM
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