DEATH ROW INMATES SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN FORUM ON INTERNET WEB SITES - Jan 03, 00

Well, we made it through Y2K, or so it seems, without major incident. It's not quite over yet as many expect computer problems to occur in the days and weeks ahead as businesses and governments get back to work after the holidays. I trust that everything will go smoothly and I look forward to the term, "Y2K", becoming a term of the past.

As we enter this new century of technological advances, one can only imagine what the future holds for us. One thing is for sure: computers and the Internet will play an increasingly important role in our lives. Every day some new, creative use of the Internet seems to appear on the scene. Unfortunately, not all uses of the Internet are worthwhile.

One example is giving death row inmates a forum, on the World Wide Web, to vent all of their thoughts against society, along with their so-called poems and artwork. A company in Canada, known as Canadian Coalition Against the Death Penalty, is hosting web sites for such a purpose. And, according to recent news reports, Alabama death row inmates are prominently featured on this site.

More than a dozen Alabama death row inmates have been given free Internet Web pages by this group, calling it freedom of speech. Well, I think those awaiting the death penalty have forfeited such rights by committing the crime that caused them to be sentenced to death. The Canadian Coalition Against the Death Penalty is also running requests on its pages for pen pals for nearly four dozen Alabama inmates.

This organization allows Alabama convicts and their counterparts in 37 other states and some foreign countries to air their gripes about the legal system, to display their poems and their sometimes bloody and graphic art in an international forum on their Internet pages. The inmates have to mail their materials to the organization in Canada since prison officials won't let them access the Internet directly.

The head of this coalition says that he is providing this outlet for the inmates because he is against the death penalty. He believes that allowing these death row inmates the ability to express their feelings will further his cause of eliminating the death penalty. I believe that this group is way off base and I will work to see that Alabama death row inmates are prohibited from posting their whining on the World Wide Web.

According to a recent news report, one Alabama death row inmate who was convicted of slaying a woman in Jefferson County in 1994, now has a presence on the Internet, thanks to the Canadian Coalition Against the Death Penalty.

This inmate and three other teenagers stabbed their victim 180 times, hacked open her chest, removed one of her lungs, cut off her fingers and thumbs, broke every bone in her face and skull and threw her over a cliff, according to news reports. Why should this murderer be allowed to post anything on the Internet for the world to view?

This inmate has posted on the Internet the following which he wants to be know as his last words: "Take life from me on this day of (which I) do not wish to live. I will see no tomorrow; All that I know turns black with my hate, I give in to pain. I yield on to fate; Look unto me, for death is my choice. I fear not the wrath, I lift up my voice; Why all the pain? This you can't tell so I say unto you now, I await you in Hell".

He has also posted a drawing of a nude woman with her right foot on the bowed back of a nude victim while holding a bloody sword in her left hand and the decapitated victim's head in her right hand. Another sketch shows a skull with crossed swords behind it. How sick can you get? I can't imagine the kind of emotions this 'freedom' brings to the family of the murdered victim.

Death row inmates also seek out pen pals on the Canadian Coalition Against the Death Penalty web site. Most of the notes posted by the inmates, from my observation, were blaming everyone other than themselves for their plight. I saw none who displayed any remorse for their deeds.

One seemed to be trying to convince the world what a wonderful person he was by writing, "My personality: a little shy, honest, caring, loving, sensitive, very protective to women, children and elderly, serious minded, don't play mind games. Not racial, don't judge people based on race,
size, or sex, I am open minded, I am also open to marriage, I am old fashionminded as family". Yeah, sure. Tell this to the victims' family.

Another seemingly egotistical, inmate writes, "Well...you may not know me, so let me take up a little of your precious time where-as I can give you a brief description of my personality. But first...I would like for you to assume a comfortable position, and let these words of wisdom flow through your mind and soul. As I paint this small picture on the wall of your mind and sparkle a little chocolate over your life, I want you to understand that I am 22 years of age, but believe me friend my mentality level is far beyond that. I've sought my excellent potential as a human being, at such a youthful age_.If you would like for your life to be enhanced in a professional manner, then here is your milk and honey! Roses are red and violets are blue, if I were looking for love I'd pick me if I were you".

I see no place in society for this type of public display of death row inmate's writings. As a member of the Alabama Senate and a member of the Alabama Prison Oversight Committee, I will do everything in my power to prevent inmates in our state from being allowed to participate in this warped scenario called 'freedom of speech'.

On the other hand, I whole heatedly support Prison Fellowship Ministries, where lay people go into the prisons to minister to the heart and souls of these inmates.