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DEATH ROW

“The best way to avoid death row is not to kill someone, it’s a rather simple concept.”— DML

IN TEXAS…

Justice Served: The Death Penalty for the Guilty Beyond Doubt

On May 20, 2025, Texas executed Matthew Lee Johnson, a 49-year-old who, in 2012, set 76-year-old Nancy Judith Harris ablaze during a robbery at a Garland convenience store. Harris, a beloved grandmother known for her “Nini Days” with her granddaughters, suffered horrific burns and died five days later. Johnson admitted to pouring lighter fluid on her, stealing cash and her ring, and fleeing. Video evidence and his own confession left no doubt of his guilt. This is the kind of case where the death penalty is not just justified—it’s demanded. When evidence is ironclad, as it was here, justice must be swift and final.

I make no apologies for supporting the death penalty in cases like Johnson’s, where guilt is undeniable—caught on tape, confessed, and corroborated. Let’s be clear: this isn’t about vengeance; it’s about accountability for heinous acts that shatter lives. Harris’s family waited 13 years for closure, a testament to a system that’s too slow but still delivers when evidence leaves no room for error.

Twenty-seven states authorize the death penalty: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. The federal government and U.S. military also permit it. In 2024, 16 executions were carried out nationwide, with Texas leading at five, followed by Alabama (three) and Missouri (two). Lethal injection is the primary method, used in 1,413 of the 1,598 executions since 1976, though alternatives like nitrogen hypoxia (Alabama) and firing squad (South Carolina) are emerging due to drug shortages.

Death row inmates spend an average of 7 years awaiting execution, though some linger for decades due to appeals. Housing a death row inmate costs taxpayers roughly $90,000 per year—more than general prison populations due to solitary confinement and security. The legal process is exhaustive: sentencing, direct review, state collateral review, and federal habeas corpus, often stretching years as courts scrutinize every detail. This rigor ensures certainty, which is why I demand ironclad evidence before supporting execution.

Demographics. 
Of the 1,598 executions since 1976, only 52 were women (3.3%), with men dominating at 96.7%. By race, 56% of executed inmates were white, 34% Black, 8% Hispanic, and 2% other races. However, Black inmates make up 41% of death row, despite being 13% of the population, raising questions about why the Black community is so out of control. My bet is has to do with the lack of fathers sticking around to raise the children they spawn. Either way, when guilt is indisputable, as in Johnson’s case, race or gender is irrelevant—justice must be blind.

Wrongful convictions are the system’s Achilles’ heel.
Since 1973, over 190 death row inmates have been exonerated, with 18 in Texas alone. The case of Cameron Todd Willingham, executed in Texas in 2004 for an alleged arson that killed his daughters, is a gut-wrenching example. Post-execution forensic analysis suggested the fire was accidental, and flawed testimony sealed his fate. This is why I insist on evidence beyond any reasonable doubt—video, DNA, confessions, not just circumstantial clues. Willingham’s case haunts, but it doesn’t negate the need for the death penalty; it demands we perfect its application.

The federal government’s stance shifted in 2025. 
President Biden commuted 37 of 40 federal death row sentences in December 2024, but President Trump’s Executive Order 14164, signed January 20, 2025, lifted the 2021 moratorium, directing the Justice Department to pursue capital punishment aggressively. Federal executions, rare since 2003, could resume, but they require federal crimes like terrorism or murder on federal land. States retain autonomy, as the Constitution leaves most criminal law to them. A national death penalty would need congressional legislation and Supreme Court approval, unlikely given divided politics.

Public opinion is split.
A 2023 Gallup poll found 50% of Americans believe the death penalty is applied unfairly, with 47% saying it’s fair—the first time skepticism led. Yet, when guilt is certain, support often spikes. Johnson’s execution reminds us: for monsters who burn grandmothers alive, the death penalty is not just right—it’s necessary. Let’s ensure it’s used only when doubt is erased, but never shy away from justice. 

As AI becomes more prevalent, there is no doubt in my mind there will be a day when an AI system says someone is guilty only to be proven wrong. AI can be dangerous if not understood. This is why I spend most of my day learning everything I can about the new tech. Full disclosure: to keep this newsletter going, I need sponsors. Thus, I earn a very small amount of money only if you click the ad, but please know that I vet every sponsor and there is never an obligation. This one below is rather important if you are like me and want to know everything there is to know about Artificial Intelligence.

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