Death penalty a possibility in cases of ‘ultimate evil’ says Pittsburgh federation rabbi
The ForwardJun 27, 2023
50-year-old Robert Bower — the man who shot and killed 11 worshipers at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pa in October 2018 — was sentenced to death by a jury on Wednesday.
The federal jury, which began deliberating Tuesday, is the same one that convicted Bowers in mid-June on 63 charges — including hate crimes resulting in death and obstruction of the free exercise of religion resulting in death.
Bowers committed the ultimate evil when he attacked the Pittsburgh synagogue, which is why the death penalty is the one and only punishment he deserves. There are no ethical or religious reasons to spare the perpetrator's life after such a terrible act.
The death penalty is ineffective and inhumane no matter the crime committed. Instead of killing Bowers, the government has a responsibility to educate and rehabilitate him. Dialogue is the better and more just course of action — antisemitism should be tackled with education.