Good idea.

So I just saw the television special report that the only man the US has in custody responsible for the 9/11 attacks was sentenced to life in prison without chance of release. This sentence was one of two choices, the other being capital punishment. Personally, I am happy with this decision. My parents, on the other hand, are not. We argued, and I see where they are coming from, but still don't agree. Sure, he did help murder thousands of people, but why let him escape so easily?

My mother was irate and said he should have be executioned, and couldn't understand my reasonings behind rooting for life in prison. They both started at me about money and tax dollars and blah blah blah, and didn't believe me when I told them it was actually less expensive to keep someone in prison for the rest of their life. That's right, LIFE IN PRISON IS LESS EXPENSIVE. The costs in each state differs, but the huge amount between figures is clear.

To keep someone in jail for 50 years, it costs approximately $800,000, give or take. Usually roughly $17,000 a year. To execute someone, the cost is usually somewhere between 2 and 3 MILLION dollars. Um, hello? Does anyone see which is obviously the better economic decision? My dad was bitching and moaning about having 3 dollars of his paycheck or whatever going to hosue these slimy bastards, and yet it would be even MORE out of his pocket to kill them. C'mon now folks!

Second, why let them get away so quickly? Maybe they get three meals a day and a cot to sleep on, but prison is no picnic. How often do you hear about inmates killing themselves in their cell, or attemtping to kill themselves? Obviously it's not all fun and games. For some reason my mother seems to think this guy will be one of the lucky ones who escapes from jail. Yeah freaking right, likely story. Besides, he'll probably be beat to a bloody pulp as often as possible if any other inmates are allowed near him. If not killed.

So. Here we are. Five years later and still feeling the hurt. It's funny how our passionate side can overcome our rational side in some instances after so long. But that's just me. I cannot speak for the family or friends of the 9/11 victims. I just know that as a bystander, I agree with the sentencing that took place.

God bless America.