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Denouncing the death penalty

Ernie Schmidt

Against the Death Penalty
Gardner C. Hanks. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press. 1997.

Hanks, who resides in Boise Idaho and is a member of the Hyde Park Mennonite Fellowship, has been an active critic of the death penalty since 1979. He has been in a leadership position with Amnesty International on this matter. Over the years he has also been spiritual advisor to a number of men on death row.

He is clear on his position: the biblical account climaxing in the life and teachings of Jesus, the movement of history, the impact of state execution on subsequent criminal violence, and the cost-effective argument – none of these support capital punishment. Hanks systematically focuses on each area and builds his arguments. Where social research is used he has relied primarily on US studies.

He provides an interesting interpretation of the Old Testament teachings on the meaning of law and the avenues of mercy it provided. His understanding of Romans 13 is built on how he believes the early Christians would have received that message. The major part of the book, though, is given to discussion of issues such as whether the deterrence argument withstands critical scrutiny, how victim impact considerations affect the debate, the tragic mistakes the legal system has made and the comparative costs of carrying a case through to execution compared to life imprisonment. Having presented his numerous findings and arguments, Hanks returns to the religious considerations and concludes: “If we are to fully accept the gift of life offered to us by our executed Lord, we can no longer support capital punishment, which is, in the final analysis, a glorification, worship and idolization of death.”

This is likely not the last word to be written on this topic because of the strong emotional dimension to it. I believe the author’s contribution is a valuable one, though, based on having lived closely with it and having considered the many arguments raised on both sides of the debate. He is clear and direct in what he has to say.

Ernie Schmidt is a retired, 33-year veteran with provincial corrections in BC. He attends Highland Community Church in Abbotsford, BC.

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Last modified July 20, 1999.

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