Rex Jory, writing on the Advertiser, lashed out against...

Rex Jory, writing on the Advertiser, lashed out against the scheduled execution of American bomber Timothy McVeigh. "I am sickened by public execution. I am sickened by government-supported capital punishment. I am sickened by the clamour, in the US, for seats at McVeigh's killing. I am sickened by public apathy to his execution."Government-sanctioned execution is barbaric and unacceptable. Capital punishment, even for the most hideous crimes, is intolerable. Yet, in the US, the execution of McVeigh has become a national sport."There is little doubt McVeigh committed the crime or that it was premeditated and the outcome was appalling and horrendous. There is no doubt he deserves to be punished. But there is no doubt he should not be executed. Some will oppose McVeigh's death fearing new evidence may emerge throwing doubt on his guilt. The number of innocent people wrongly executed would fill a stadium but that is not the central objection to capital punishment."It is simply wrong for a government, any government, to condone legal execution."It is spurious to argue jailing McVeigh for the rest of his life will impose huge costs on American taxpayers. So do the blind, the crippled and the unemployed. To condone capital punishment on the grounds of cost is a step towards legalised genocide. Equally, it is fatuous to suggest McVeigh should be killed because he may escape and repeat his crime.Paradoxically, Timothy McVeigh's death on May 16 will not enhance the case for capital punishment. Possibly it will strengthen the resolve of those opposed to it to speak out with more authority and purpose. Otherwise all we have done, as a civilisation, is fill a basic need for vengeance. That is no vindication for taking a life. The English poet John Donne wrote: "Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind." Timothy McVeigh's death will diminish us all."