Susan Atkins wants out of jail to die...

[Taximom]

If she killed a member of my family, I don't think I'd have any compassion for her. It's hard to say, but I just don't think I would.

 

[Linda7NJ]

I feel no need to show compassion to murderers. None. They ARE treated humanely!

They get 3 meals a day, a bed, air conditioning while I am sitting here sweating off my nipples trying to save money somewhere....and free health care. That's far more than many LAW ABIDING citizens have!

Compassion? Get real!

This woman is a psychopath imo. She proved that long after the drugs left her system.

 

[Mira]

if she had ever said she was sorry, or shown any remorse, maybe i could dredge up some sympathy. as it is, she can die where she is.

too bad so sad...

 

[believe09]

Just to give you a taste of why someone on the other side (Me!) might have no problem in letting her go home to die and believe it's the right thing to do:

I don't believe in prison as punishment. There's no punishment on earth suitable for the crime she committed, so I leave justice to a higher authority and don't care a whit if I "see" it or not. I do believe prison is appropriate to keep the rest of society safe from those who have proven dangerous and/harmful.

I don't look at prisoners as , but as fellow humans who made terrible choices. Those terrible choices don't negate the fact that they are humans who should be treated humanely. They have worth just as the rest of us have worth.

She was not compassionate when she murdered Sharon Tate. But I hold myself and society to a higher standard than a murderer. I think we should show compassion because it is the right thing to do. It is the high road, the honorable path and what many of us are called to do by our spiritual beliefs.

It costs us nothing monetarily to allow her to die in the care of relatives. In fact, as a society, we would save money because she would only be released to family memebrs who agreed to be completely financially responsible for her care.

It costs us nothing riskwise to allow her to die in the care of relatives. She is no longer a danger to society.

I'm about creating a "treat others as you would be treated" world and not "a treat others as they treat you" world.

Anyway - I'm not trying to change anyone's minds here. I surely understand the desire for someone to "pay". I don't necessarily understand the desire for someone to suffer - I hate that any of us here suffer, whether we "deserve" it or not. I was just sharing with you the honest feelings that run through my heart when I read a story like this.

This is one of the things I love best and respect the most about you SCM-this ability to look to higher ground. I aspire to it, for sure. It is hard for me to feel like SA has paid us back, but as you pointed out there is NO sentence that is going to refund society for the black hole she and her fellow Mansonites left behind.

 

[SeekingJana]

Just to give you a taste of why someone on the other side (Me!) might have no problem in letting her go home to die and believe it's the right thing to do:

I don't believe in prison as punishment. There's no punishment on earth suitable for the crime she committed, so I leave justice to a higher authority and don't care a whit if I "see" it or not. I do believe prison is appropriate to keep the rest of society safe from those who have proven dangerous and/harmful.

I don't look at prisoners as , but as fellow humans who made terrible choices. Those terrible choices don't negate the fact that they are humans who should be treated humanely. They have worth just as the rest of us have worth.

She was not compassionate when she murdered Sharon Tate. But I hold myself and society to a higher standard than a murderer. I think we should show compassion because it is the right thing to do. It is the high road, the honorable path and what many of us are called to do by our spiritual beliefs.

It costs us nothing monetarily to allow her to die in the care of relatives. In fact, as a society, we would save money because she would only be released to family memebrs who agreed to be completely financially responsible for her care.

It costs us nothing riskwise to allow her to die in the care of relatives. She is no longer a danger to society.

I'm about creating a "treat others as you would be treated" world and not "a treat others as they treat you" world.

Anyway - I'm not trying to change anyone's minds here. I surely understand the desire for someone to "pay". I don't necessarily understand the desire for someone to suffer - I hate that any of us here suffer, whether we "deserve" it or not. I was just sharing with you the honest feelings that run through my heart when I read a story like this.

I agree with every word you wrote. I remember being a kid and seeing the long haired girls of the " family" with Charlie. It was such a shock today to see her photo as she appears now. This woman is no threat to anyone.
She has paid her debt to society in the worst possible way- life in prison, which I believe is much worse and fitting than a death sentence.

I believe she should be released to her family, have hospice care, and die with care and pain medication as needed.
I just wanted you to know that I support your position on punishment within the criminal justice system and death.

Maria

 

[SeekingJana]

I don't have to take sides. The very nature of compassion (a form of love) is that its expression is not diluted or lessened if it is shown towards everyone.

THIS is the very essence of the meaning of the word compassion. It is not a pick and choose action. I believe that God has compassion equally for all of us. If we are to be like God, how can we practice selective compassion?
Where is mankind's humanity to man ( or woman) in this situation?

Maria

 

[arielilane]

I don't think she is a threat to society. My problem with letting her out is death is final. When she killed, that meant everyone she killed lost their life and their family no longer were able to even pick up the phone and call them, etc.. She (SA) is still able to pick up the phone and call her loved ones. I don't believe in capital punishment, but I do think if they do the crime, then they should do the time...
But, then there are many just walking the streets free as a bird...

 

[lightwaveryder]

this is a tough one.

I have some basic observations. She did ruthlessly murder a mother and unborn child. This crime is different than shooting your spouses new love or shooting someone in a bank robbery. This is cold blooded infanticide, the most heinous form of evil there is. denying a child not yet born the ability to become the person they were meant to become.

she did spend a long time in prison and chose to put that time to good use, by helping others, to make her obeisance with god.

i feel that if she were a man who murdered a mother and child, a lot less people would be willing to let him/her out.

to me its more chilling that a woman would do this to another woman. its more....evil.

wouldn't it be ironic if they let her out, and she was murdered in her own home by a knife wielding maniac?
(i wish the lord would be this direct in dealing with people like this. ;-)

i think dying in a prison hospital ward is a perfectly acceptable compassion. if it were me , and sharon tate was one of my family members or my spouse, i'd throw her in a log splitter, so dying in prison in a hospital ward IS compassionate compared to what *i think* she deserves.



~lightwaveryder~

 

[Linda7NJ]

Would ya all feel the same if it were Scott Peterson tomorrow?

 

[concernedperson]

Frankly, for me the compassion comes in not allowing another to suffer needlessly. This can be arranged for her and she will meet her maker soon enough. To let her out doesn't fulfill the punishment for her crime.There are drugs that will be given inside the prison to ease her suffering. If she is as far advanced as the info says than she doesn't know whether she is in prison or not. This is a political statement from her friends.

No prison in this country will let someone suffer especially of a heinous disease.

 

[PSUfan]

She is likely not a threat to society, but her being released would cause more pain to the families of her victims, and I have much more compassion for them than I have for the killer. I do not hate the killer, or even wish her a painful death. She claims to be a born-again Christian. I hope she finds peace and forgiveness on the other side.

Sounds like she did some good during her imprisonment. Give her extra time outside in the sun.. behind barbed wire. Give her extra visiting hours with her family. But don't hurt her victims families further by releasing her.

 

[SeekingJana]

Not to be rude or anything, but what of the probably elderly relatives who love her and who want to be caring for her in her last days? They didn't commit crimes, as far as we know. Do they not deserve consideration and compassion? Love doesn't necessarily stop because someone did something horrible almost 40 years ago, while on drugs and possibly deprived and abused in ways that we are better off not knowing.

 

[concernedperson]

Not to be rude or anything, but what of the probably elderly relatives who love her and who want to be caring for her in her last days? They didn't commit crimes, as far as we know. Do they not deserve consideration and compassion? Love doesn't necessarily stop because someone did something horrible almost 40 years ago, while on drugs and possibly deprived and abused in ways that we are better off not knowing.

The victims families come first and their feelings. They have lived with the loss and sorrow for almost 40 years. I thought the main thrust of the getting her out was her husband attorney? That is why I mentioned a political statement. I don't know what elderly people you speak of.


From the story:
Atkins' husband and attorney, James Whitehouse, was quoted as saying she has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, according to a blog called Manson Family Today

 

[SeekingJana]

Would ya all feel the same if it were Scott Peterson tomorrow?

Just as justice is blind, Cancer is no discriminator of persons. IF Scott Peterson had terminal cancer, diagnosed and confirmed, and was medically proven to be dying, yes, If he could benefit in his last days from hospice care at home with a stable caregiver ( which IMO, rules out his parents), then yes, if I was on the Parole board, I would vote to grant him parole to die with benefit of humane and ethical treatment. f he or anyone else in the same situation needed mercy at the end of their lives, I would grant it, for it is what separates mankind from most of the animal kingdom.

 

[SeekingJana]

The victims families come first and their feelings. They have lived with the loss and sorrow for almost 40 years. I thought the main thrust of the getting her out was her husband attorney? That is why I mentioned a political statement. I don't know what elderly people you speak of.


From the story:
Atkins' husband and attorney, James Whitehouse, was quoted as saying she has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, according to a blog called Manson Family Today

She's 60 years old. I suppose we can dissect the meaning of the word " elderly" but I am not here to argue with you. I am sure she has blood relatives still alive who are older than she is. THEY have suffered because of her actions, too.

 

[PSUfan]

Not to be rude or anything, but what of the probably elderly relatives who love her and who want to be caring for her in her last days? They didn't commit crimes, as far as we know. Do they not deserve consideration and compassion? Love doesn't necessarily stop because someone did something horrible almost 40 years ago, while on drugs and possibly deprived and abused in ways that we are better off not knowing.

Everybody has to die of something. Even prisoners. Is it common to allow a "life without parole-commuted from the death sentence" out to die? Especially when the victims families strongly object? I sure hope not.

 

[PSUfan]

She's 60 years old. I suppose we can dissect the meaning of the word " elderly" but I am not here to argue with you. I am sure she has blood relatives still alive who are older than she is. THEY have suffered because of her actions, too.

Not even a fraction as much as the victims families, and their wishes should be honored first.

 

[SeekingJana]

I don't think the prison system has hospital facilities with hospice capabilities or Morphine IV pumps. I could be wrong, but I've never read of a prison with those types of palliative care for terminally ill inmates.

 

[pixies]

I think she and the other "Manson" women should be released.

Except the one who tried to kill the President.

 

[Linda7NJ]

Just as justice is blind, Cancer is no discriminator of persons. IF Scott Peterson had terminal cancer, diagnosed and confirmed, and was medically proven to be dying, yes, If he could benefit in his last days from hospice care at home with a stable caregiver ( which IMO, rules out his parents), then yes, if I was on the Parole board, I would vote to grant him parole to die with benefit of humane and ethical treatment. f he or anyone else in the same situation needed mercy at the end of their lives, I would grant it, for it is what separates mankind from most of the animal kingdom.

I will never get it:waitasec: I respect your opinion but no way will I ever share it.