Violence Begets Violence Begets Violence or: What the Hell is going on in Alabama?

October 7, 2005 8:12 AM

Man Sentenced to Death in Alabama. but not just any old death sentence. This is the fellow who killed two cops and a police dispatcher, then blamed his actions on Grand Theft Auto, which is a popular video game. Alabama, the state whose residents fought so hard to keep the 10 commandments on display in a courthouse. Maybe they should have been allowed to display that monument, to remind them that murder is a crime - no matter how you dress it up.
posted by the theory of revolution (66 comments total)

It looks like a standard death sentence to me.
posted by smackfu at 8:16 AM on October 7, 2005

Maybe they should have been allowed to display that monument, to remind them that murder is a crime - no matter how you dress it up.

Fucker was probably making graven images on the side.
posted by Mephistopheles at 8:16 AM on October 7, 2005

I heard that he frequently coveted his neighbor's wife's ass.
posted by The White Hat at 8:18 AM on October 7, 2005

I heard that he frequently coveted his neighbor's wife's ass.

At least it wasn't her ox.
posted by Pollomacho at 8:18 AM on October 7, 2005

...then blamed his actions on Grand Theft Auto,

And he killed only three people?
posted by three blind mice at 8:21 AM on October 7, 2005

Maybe they should have been allowed to display that monument, to remind them that murder is a crime - no matter how you dress it up.

Fuck! I keep forgetting that. Minneapolis needs to get a courthouse monument if I'm ever going to learn to control myself. I suppose they should also put up a monument to remind me of the immorality of stuffing dead chickens up random people's asses, although really the damage might already be done on that front.
posted by COBRA! at 8:21 AM on October 7, 2005

PoliticalOpinionFilter.
I don't like it either, but come on.
posted by symphonik at 8:21 AM on October 7, 2005

only three people?

teh noob luser.
posted by CynicalKnight at 8:22 AM on October 7, 2005

Maybe they should have been allowed to display that monument, to remind them that murder is a crime - no matter how you dress it up.

Um, not exactly.

He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death. Exodus 21:12

And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death. Leviticus 24:17.

Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death. Numbers 35:31.

posted by monju_bosatsu at 8:23 AM on October 7, 2005

should they also add a little placard citing Exodus 21:22-23 - taking the life of fetus is punishable by paying a fine?
posted by specialk420 at 8:26 AM on October 7, 2005

posted by COBRA! stuffing dead chickens up random people's asses, although really the damage might already be done on that front.

Whoa, I heard about you at Burning Man.
posted by fandango_matt at 8:33 AM on October 7, 2005

At least it wasn't stuffing random chickens up dead people's assess...because...you know...that would be kind of sick.
posted by stifford at 8:36 AM on October 7, 2005

For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a Sabbath of rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it must be put to death - Exodus 35:2

I guarantee that the creators of grand theft auto worked sundays to get their game out the door.
posted by the theory of revolution at 8:37 AM on October 7, 2005

I remember this case. The guy was arrested by the police, and taken to the station, where he grabbed a policeman's gun, and used it to shoot some police officers. Then he blamed Grand Theft Auto for getting him to do the crime, in spite of the fact that the crime didn't resemble GTA at all:
- In GTA, it's not possible to take another person's gun -- you have to either buy one or pick it up from the ground
- In GTA, it's not possible to break out once you've already been arrested
posted by CrunchyFrog at 8:40 AM on October 7, 2005

I don't get the point of this story.
posted by jmccorm at 8:40 AM on October 7, 2005

> Maybe they should have been allowed to display that
> monument, to remind them that murder is a crime

The problem with the monument is that it reminds us that murder is a sin -- on a par with committing adultery, and failing to honour thy father and thy mother, and as such, redeemable by a spot of confession.

Perhaps a monument that shows an eye for an eye would be more successful at conveying your desired message?
posted by PeterMcDermott at 8:43 AM on October 7, 2005

There needs to be a tag option 'absolute shite'.
posted by biffa at 8:46 AM on October 7, 2005

- In GTA, it's not possible to break out once you've already been arrested

the hell you say ... "At the Character Select screen press Del then enter "snarkfilter" for free lives"
posted by pyramid termite at 8:47 AM on October 7, 2005

I remember this case. The guy was arrested by the police, and taken to the station, where he grabbed a policeman's gun, and used it to shoot some police officers. Then he blamed Grand Theft Auto for getting him to do the crime

Was he hoping to take their uniforms so that he and Lance Vance could sneak into the mall and detonate the bomb that his flunkies didn't set up properly?
posted by COBRA! at 8:47 AM on October 7, 2005

I'm having a hard time seeing what the 10 Commandments monument has to do with this guys' crime or sentence. It's not like the state or the people in Alabama excused his actions. Or perhaps your point was that an Alabama court wanted a momument that included the words "Thou Shal Not Kill" and now they are putting someone to death? Does your mention of Grand Theft Auto have anything to do with the point of this post?

This seems really pretty weak, but perhaps I'm just being obtuse and fail to get the point here.
posted by afflatus at 8:51 AM on October 7, 2005

Whoa, I heard about you at Burning Man.

No, fandango_matt: that guy stuffed live chickens.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 8:53 AM on October 7, 2005

I thought that in GTA, the only weapon you could grab in the police station is the giant purple dildo. I'm sure there's something in the Bible about that.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 9:02 AM on October 7, 2005

that guy stuffed live chickens

is that how they execute people in alabama? ... isn't that cruel and unusual punishment?
posted by pyramid termite at 9:02 AM on October 7, 2005

What is the point of this post?
posted by dig_duggler at 9:04 AM on October 7, 2005

I was going to comment on how this post didn't make any sense, but I'll just leave it at my previous statement. I don't get it.
posted by dig_duggler at 9:07 AM on October 7, 2005

This isn't what Metafilter is for, the theory. Badly sourced & badly constructed. If I had a rolled up newspaper I would rap you, firmly & with purpose, on the tip of the nose.
posted by dhoyt at 9:07 AM on October 7, 2005

isn't that cruel and unusual punishment?

Depends who you ask. For the chickens, it certainly is.
posted by fandango_matt at 9:09 AM on October 7, 2005

I'm not seeing any problem with the death sentence in this case. Or in a lot of others..

the list... Murder, sexual assault , third time felons and campaign fraud
posted by HuronBob at 9:11 AM on October 7, 2005

I think the point the poster intended is that killing a murderer is hypocritical - but if it is, then so is locking someone up for kidnapping...
posted by Bort at 9:11 AM on October 7, 2005

Depends who you ask. For the chickens, it certainly is.

That depends entirely on the chicken.
posted by COBRA! at 9:13 AM on October 7, 2005

Was he hoping to take their uniforms so that he and Lance Vance could sneak into the mall and detonate the bomb that his flunkies didn't set up properly?

He obviously didn't see the gold 'Bribe' star sitting in that alley nearby. Would've saved him from all of this rigamarole.
posted by NationalKato at 9:15 AM on October 7, 2005

Uh, what do these two links have to do with each other... at all?
posted by mkultra at 9:15 AM on October 7, 2005

Was Gonzo a chicken? Cuz he's totally be down.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 9:16 AM on October 7, 2005

Thank god you didn't call yourself the "theory of logic".
posted by justgary at 9:17 AM on October 7, 2005

You'll notice they didn't implement the ability to kill preists, rabbis, or monks in GTA. So, they must have some religious values! You can kill just about everything else, after all.
posted by symphonik at 9:27 AM on October 7, 2005

This is a crap post. A link to a two line article with no background, and a secondary link that has no bearing on the first link at all?

AgendaFilter.

You want to make a post about the death sentence, fine. Do your homework, come up with some real links that have, I dunno...content. This is a waste of blue space.
posted by dejah420 at 9:32 AM on October 7, 2005

Agreed -- this post sucks. Thwackity, thwack-thwack we go with our rolled up newspapers (love that image dhoyt!)
posted by mooncrow at 9:38 AM on October 7, 2005

is that how they execute people in alabama? ... isn't that cruel and unusual punishment?

No sweetie, that's how they make love in Alabama.
Kidding! I live in the South! I'm sure that Alabama folks would never do such a thing! Unless they were out of ducks!

I think that a lot of people don't believe that the death penalty violates the sixth commandment, since the actual Hebrew word is "ratsakh," which is properly translated as murder, and would not extend to killing as punishment, killing in war time, killing in self defence, killing animals, or, for that matter, killing because God told you to. "Nakah" would be used to refer to general killing. Not that I am a huge fan of the death penalty, but it's not necessarily inconsistent to like the Ten Commandments and the death penalty.

Logic aside, this is a terrible post. The GTA thing doesn't make this an unusual case, and a death penalty carried out in a red, bible-thumping state is, in fact, any old death sentence.
posted by LittleMissCranky at 9:40 AM on October 7, 2005

You know, I never understood why the hyper-Christians always capitalize LORD the way that they do. Even if you just wanted to make lord a proper noun, which it isn't (ex: "my lord, the FSM" would be correct), you'd write it "Lord."

Just to instill fear? Shock and awe?

Respect your
♰✟✞ LORD!! ♘♉☭
posted by symphonik at 9:42 AM on October 7, 2005

No sweetie, that's how they make love in Alabama.

WAR EAGLE!!
posted by pyramid termite at 9:45 AM on October 7, 2005

BAD POST! DELETE!
posted by klangklangston at 9:56 AM on October 7, 2005

No sweetie, that's how they make love in Alabama.

WAR EAGLE!!

Ah yes. Squawk & Awe.
posted by fandango_matt at 10:07 AM on October 7, 2005

What is this post about?
posted by The Jesse Helms at 10:09 AM on October 7, 2005

symphonik : "You'll notice they didn't implement the ability to kill preists, rabbis, or monks in GTA."

Oh-ho, that's where you're wrong!
posted by Bugbread at 10:35 AM on October 7, 2005

I've had a few moments when I've gone outside after some highly intense GTA game play and had to catch myself from setting up my car to ram people who cut me off.

It is easy to forget that its a game and reality's reality. Well, not easy but it is possible.

The GTA Defense is about as plausible as the Twinkie Defense. If you can't figure out right from wrong then you're going to end up doing wrong no matter what gives you the idea to do that wrong.
posted by fenriq at 10:59 AM on October 7, 2005

What is this post about?

the theory of revolution wishes us to remember that killing is bad.
Because we are stupid little babies.



ps.

The best song for wildout four star police chases in GTA is Freebird, because it builds up to a mega guitar freakout.
posted by Divine_Wino at 11:05 AM on October 7, 2005

MetaFilter: it builds up to a mega guitar freakout.
posted by NationalKato at 11:13 AM on October 7, 2005

I think it's conveniently glossed over that the Bible never once mentions GTA.
posted by mazola at 11:15 AM on October 7, 2005

If this had been 6 years ago he would have blamed in on Marilyn Manson. If it was the 80's he would have blamed it on Slayer, music videos, and quaaludes. If it was the 70's he would have blamed it on the Rolling Stones, or possibly CCR.

Get the point? There's always something the mainstream wants to blame for its ills, and that makes it really easy for run of the mill psychos to pass off their responsibility.
posted by baphomet at 11:23 AM on October 7, 2005

Nothing makes me want to kill like a little Creedence on the ole tapedeck.
posted by Divine_Wino at 11:29 AM on October 7, 2005

baphomet - let's start a trend and blame it on metafilter
posted by pyramid termite at 11:31 AM on October 7, 2005

murder is a crime - no matter how you dress it up.

Not even if it wears a nicely tailored blouse with an a-line skirt and sensible flats?

put me down with the "what's the point of this post?" crowd.
posted by quantumetric at 12:28 PM on October 7, 2005

I'm guessing it's a "Hey, look, Christians say murder is bad, and then they kill people. Hypocrites!" post. Just a guess.
posted by Bugbread at 12:33 PM on October 7, 2005

MeFi > Christians > "They're not as peaceful as they claim!"

LGF > Muslims > "They're not as peaceful as they claim!"


Nothing new here. Only strange thing is why it hasn't been deleted.
posted by dhoyt at 12:58 PM on October 7, 2005

dhoyt & bugbread, you two were the first to mention christians...
posted by Iax at 5:08 PM on October 7, 2005

Iax : "dhoyt & bugbread, you two were the first to mention christians..."

True, but I don't think it was a big leap to make the assumption that when the author was referring to the Ten Commandments in Alabama, that it was in reference to the Ten Commandments of Christianity, not the Ten Commandments of Zoroastrianism or the Ten Commandments of Lladro Collecting.

But, like I said, it was just a guess. If he wasn't talking about anything religious with the Ten Commandments stuff, I apologize.
posted by Bugbread at 6:03 PM on October 7, 2005

Look, you can put up monuments, signs, decals, bumperstickers and TV ads listing the 10 Commandments all you want, right along with the felony laws of your respective jurisdictions and the secret recipe for Classic Coke, and it won't do a damn thing: people who murder people already know murder is forbidden. Really! Yes, as amazing as it may sound, they know it's a no-no and they still do it anyway! That explains why they do things like run from the police, throw the gun they used in the river, or blame their wives' deaths on imaginary black men: they know they have done a thing which is generally disapproved of. If they had no idea that murder was a no-no they would instead say things like "But I thought it was perfectly okay! I never heard anybody say there was anything wrong with blowing somebody's brains out!"

Even if you tattooed your 10 Commandments all over our bodies at birth people would still break them, because "Knowledge of The Forbidden" is not enough to ensure that we behave as you say. Haven't you so-called Christians heard the stories of Adam & Eve and Cain & Abel?? Fictional though those tales may be, they do spell this simple fact out for you. Yes! Right there Genesis, the very first book of your so-called Holy Bible, you have several examples of people who know a thing is a "sin" or a "crime" but do it anyway. If you bothered to read your Bible instead of posting stupid prattle to the Internet you might know better than to try to fool people with your "Magic Solution".

Tellya what: I invite any "Christian" to prove me wrong. Simply show me where in the Bible it says "If you tell everybody 'Murder is wrong!' nobody will ever do it from then on and ye shall all live as peaceable lambs." Is it in Judges? John? Corinthians?
posted by davy at 7:20 PM on October 7, 2005

davy : "I invite any 'Christian' to prove me wrong. Simply show me where in the Bible it says 'If you tell everybody "Murder is wrong!" nobody will ever do it from then on and ye shall all live as peaceable lambs.' Is it in Judges? John? Corinthians?"

By the same token, I invite you to show me any Christian (well, ok, there's a bunch of Christians out there, so I'm sure you can find one. How about "a minor passel of Christians"?) who say that if you put up the Ten Commandments, nobody will ever do it again from then on.

I think you're arguing against foes that don't exist. The good thing is, you can't lose to them if they don't exist. The bad thing is, you can't win to them if they don't exist.
posted by Bugbread at 7:27 PM on October 7, 2005

sorry about all this - I work for EA and was trying to stir up some anti-T2 discussion. Sorry if I ruined the fun.
posted by the theory of revolution at 8:02 PM on October 7, 2005

Then bugbread, what could possibly be the point of putting up 10 Commandments displays if they will have absolutely no effect on the rate or numbers of evil deeds?
posted by davy at 9:31 PM on October 7, 2005

davy, it's so people can praise each other in public about how righteous they are ... something jesus advised against ...
posted by pyramid termite at 9:55 PM on October 7, 2005

I don't understand what's wrong with putting up the ten commandments. Obviously, the people of alabama are devout jews who want the laws Moses brought to the chosen people to be prominently displayed near a house of law. I mean, there's nothing in the constitution about the separation of temple and state, is there?
posted by shmegegge at 10:28 PM on October 7, 2005

Ten Commandments of Lladro Collecting.
posted by bugbread at 9:03 PM EST

Oh man! Those Lladro collectors act all peaceful and shit but you break one little figurine.....
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 8:14 AM on October 8, 2005

davy : "Then bugbread, what could possibly be the point of putting up 10 Commandments displays if they will have absolutely no effect on the rate or numbers of evil deeds?"

I invite you to show me where "they don't believe it will prevent absolutely every incidence of something happening ever" = "they believe it will have absolutely no effect at all". Or for that matter, "I am not a billionaire" = "I live in abject poverty and chew gum I find on the sidewalk", "my favorite band is not Jane's Addiction" = "I have a detailed plan for how to assassinate all people who have ever met Perry Farrel", or "I didn't eat all the ice cream in the universe yesterday" = "I have never tasted this substance called 'ice cream'".

the theory of revolution : "sorry about all this - I work for EA and was trying to stir up some anti-T2 discussion."

Huh?
posted by Bugbread at 5:08 PM on October 8, 2005

bugbread, here's a glossary

EA = Electronic Arts, ttor's employer apparently
T2 = Take Two Games, publishers of Grand Theft Auto [mentioned in first link]
posted by jessamyn at 9:07 PM on October 8, 2005

Ah...I got EA, but when I read "T2", I could only think of Terminator 2 (I keep thinking of GTA as being a Rock Star game). Thanks.
posted by Bugbread at 10:00 AM on October 9, 2005