Capital punishment, police brutality, eyes on Washington, respect each other, big government

Capital punishment

Following the recent conviction in Tarrant County of Amos Wells III for multiple murders, I attended part of the sentencing phase of the trial. I saw a young black man in an ill-fitting suit, sitting at the table with his attorneys, head down, shoulders slumped. The court room was almost empty of spectators. Two law students took notes. Despite the attempts of his legal team, Amos Wells was sentenced to death.

I wonder what the holidays will be like for those closely connected to the Wells case? For the grieving family of the victims? For the Wells family who live in Fort Worth? For Wells himself?

In my tradition, we are in the midst of Advent; looking with hope and expectation toward the coming of justice and love into our midst. Is there anything hopeful about capital punishment in Texas? Actually, yes, there is. Though Texas leads the nation in executions, we have mirrored the trend in recent years nationally in the decline of the death penalty.

I am not sure what justice looks like in a case like this, however I believe that murder is wrong, whether committed by an individual or the state.

Police brutality

To end police brutality, respect authority. Obey the law.

Eyes on Washington

Every Sunday. I look anxiously for your column, “Eyes on Washington,” and always I wonder why you do not report on the import of the actions our senators and representatives have taken.

For example, how can one explain why our congresswoman, Kay Granger, voted (as usual) in lockstep with her Republican colleagues to “weaken rules that subject the nation’s largest financial institutions to increased Federal Reserve oversight and enhanced capital standards.”

And why would anyone want to reject “legislation requiring major party presidential candidates to publicly release their personal tax returns for the preceding three years”?

Admittedly, I am one of those dreaded liberals, but do we want another 2008 debacle? And isn’t it just as important to know as much about the investments of future candidates as we did about Hillary Clinton’s?

Respect each other

Over the last months I have seen many signs at Hillary Clinton rallies that say “Love Trumps Hate.”

Since the election, I have heard Trump and even Obama be very respectful of each other. Wish that it were true for the far left.

Big government

Our Republican-dominated Legislature struck down the right of citizens to ban fracking in their communities.

Now Sen. Konni Burton has written a bill seeking to regulate communication between school districts and parents. (“Burton’s bill raises concerns about ‘outing’ gay students,” Sunday)

This is the same government overreach Republicans have been accusing Democrats of for years.

I remember when the Republican Party believed in smaller government, less regulation and getting the government out of the lives of the people. Ah, the good old days.

This story was originally published December 6, 2016 at 2:52 PM with the headline "Capital punishment, police brutality, eyes on Washington, respect each other, big government."