So long John Muhammad.

[wuapinmon]

I have no problem with the death penalty, especially since it gives prosecutors a major bargaining chip when they negotiate plea agreements. I think it's about deterrence and about retribution, and I'm fine with both.

[Tim]

I hate the death penalty but I see that in cases like this it's appropriate. Dancing on the grave of the executed is inappropriate in any case, though.

[FN Phat]

As you usual, I am late to the table.

I lived in Fredericksburg, VA at the time of the shootings. I was also working for a printing press at the time and one of my duties was a delivery driver. I drove a white box truck. Similar to the one that the authorities thought that he was shooting out of. If you have ever been around the NOVA area, you know all to well how many white box trucks there are. It was a brilliant idea by the sniper. Who knows how long his reign of terror would have lasted if he didn't get sloppy at the end. I was less than two miles away, driving southbound on Rt. 1 towards 95, when the shooting at the Exxon Station at the Massaponax Exit off of 95 took place. By the time I drove by there was complete chaos. I had no idea what happened, I just saw people running and people attending to a man at the gas station. I quickly found out what had happened on the radio. I was on my way to a delivery at a local elementary school when an unmarked police cruiser started to tail me. I knew what was going to happen. He hit his lights, and I pulled to the side of the road. We were in BFE, towards Ladysmith for the locals, and I waited there for over 5 minutes. Back arrived to the tune of 5+ cruisers and police officers with their weapons drawn. I rolled down the window and chucked my keys to the middle of the road and quickly put my hands out of the window. Long story short, I was there for over an hour and a background check, and a thorough search of the vehicle and myself, I was able to leave. I still don't know how I was able to be let go without a trip to the station, at the very least.

Surfah and UD, I clearly remember everyone at the pumps running out of the cars to the stations, never in a straight line. If you were at the pump, you were bobbing and weaving. It was surreal. My best friend got spooked by an old truck that back fired while at a gas station that he tucked and rolled on the ground and popped up and high-tailed it backed to his car.

I had forgot about that experience until I read this thread. The man got what he deserved.

[myboynoah]

As you usual, I am late to the table.

I lived in Fredericksburg, VA at the time of the shootings. I was also working for a printing press at the time and one of my duties was a delivery driver. I drove a white box truck. Similar to the one that the authorities thought that he was shooting out of. If you have ever been around the NOVA area, you know all to well how many white box trucks there are. It was a brilliant idea by the sniper. Who knows how long his reign of terror would have lasted if he didn't get sloppy at the end. I was less than two miles away, driving southbound on Rt. 1 towards 95, when the shooting at the Exxon Station at the Massaponax Exit off of 95 took place. By the time I drove by there was complete chaos. I had no idea what happened, I just saw people running and people attending to a man at the gas station. I quickly found out what had happened on the radio. I was on my way to a delivery at a local elementary school when an unmarked police cruiser started to tail me. I knew what was going to happen. He hit his lights, and I pulled to the side of the road. We were in BFE, towards Ladysmith for the locals, and I waited there for over 5 minutes. Back arrived to the tune of 5+ cruisers and police officers with their weapons drawn. I rolled down the window and chucked my keys to the middle of the road and quickly put my hands out of the window. Long story short, I was there for over an hour and a background check, and a thorough search of the vehicle and myself, I was able to leave. I still don't know how I was able to be let go without a trip to the station, at the very least.

Surfah and UD, I clearly remember everyone at the pumps running out of the cars to the stations, never in a straight line. If you were at the pump, you were bobbing and weaving. It was surreal. My best friend got spooked by an old truck that back fired while at a gas station that he tucked and rolled on the ground and popped up and high-tailed it backed to his car.

I had forgot about that experience until I read this thread. The man got what he deserved.

Amazing story, Phatman. I remember them pulling over white vans throughout the region. It was all over the news. No doubt your experience was broadcast realtime on radio and TV. And in the end, the "white van" had nothing to do with it.

Yes, we didn't stand around at the pump. Quickly put the hose in the car and get back in the car or go inside to wait it out, then hurry and get out of there. A very anxious, surreal time.

While not an oppenent of the death penalty, I'm always saddened when we carry it out.

[UtahDan]

I hate the death penalty but I see that in cases like this it's appropriate. Dancing on the grave of the executed is inappropriate in any case, though.

I think I can endorse 100% of this post.

[Tim]

I think I can endorse 100% of this post.

I'm one of those people that believes that once someone has been executed, they've paid for their mistakes/sins/crimes and they're no longer "criminals." They deserve to be reverenced in a way that we'd reverence any person that repented and was forgiven for their sin. It's hard to see people rejoice in their death, treat them disrespectfully, and continue to demonize them. Once they've paid for their crime with their life, they don't deserve to be treated that way.

[UtahDan]

I'm one of those people that believes that once someone has been executed, they've paid for their mistakes/sins/crimes and they're no longer "criminals." They deserve to be reverenced in a way that we'd reverence any person that repented and was forgiven for their sin. It's hard to see people rejoice in their death, treat them disrespectfully, and continue to demonize them. Once they've paid for their crime with their life, they don't deserve to be treated that way.

I view capital punishment as a terrible, terrible thing. I believe it is necessary. But that makes it no less awful. And you are right, there is no reason to gloat over the dead. I'm glad this particular guy is gone, but he has now paid the penalty.

[wuapinmon]

I'm one of those people that believes that once someone has been executed, they've paid for their mistakes/sins/crimes and they're no longer "criminals." They deserve to be reverenced in a way that we'd reverence any person that repented and was forgiven for their sin. It's hard to see people rejoice in their death, treat them disrespectfully, and continue to demonize them. Once they've paid for their crime with their life, they don't deserve to be treated that way.

I view capital punishment as a terrible, terrible thing. I believe it is necessary. But that makes it no less awful. And you are right, there is no reason to gloat over the dead. I'm glad this particular guy is gone, but he has now paid the penalty.

I agree completely. People that say things like "I hope it hurt" are just suffering from the gall of bitterness. Muhammad paid for his crimes last night. As bad as they are, it's over now.

I still can't bring myself not to vilify Hitler, Stalin, Amin, and Franco.