ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida is preparing for its fifth execution of 2023 as James Barnes is scheduled to be executed on August 3. Governor Ron DeSantis signed the death warrant on June 22, and Barnes, a convicted murderer, has chosen to waive all appeals and proceed with his execution.
Barnes, now 61 years old, was serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the murder of his wife, Linda, in 1997. He later confessed to the rape and murder of Patsy Miller, a nurse, in her Melbourne home in 1988. Barnes converted to Islam and confessed to Miller’s murder in an attempt to find closure for her family.
Opponents of capital punishment argue that Barnes’ case highlights the need for alternative sentencing options, such as life without parole. Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty released a statement expressing their concerns about the state-sanctioned execution, claiming that justice can be served without resorting to “state-sanctioned murder.”
A report by Thedialog.org states that Barnes’ case has sparked discussions about the necessity of a bill to be introduced into the Legislature, known as an SMI bill, which would prevent the execution of individuals suffering from serious mental illness.
Supporters of Barnes, including Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, will be holding vigils in front of Florida State Prison in Starke on August 3 to pray for the victims, Barnes, and the prison personnel involved in the execution. Similar vigils will be held across the state.
James Barnes’ upbringing was marked by
severe physical and mental abuse at the hands of his parents and siblings. He, along with his siblings, suffered from addiction and criminal behavior as a result. According to Barnes’ testimony, their father would subject them to “blanket parties,” wherein they were forced to participate in whipping their brother as a form of punishment.
Barnes’ mental health struggles were evident throughout his life. He was “Baker Acted” multiple times, a term that refers to individuals who exhibit extreme behavior indicating mental illness that could result in harm to themselves or others. Despite this, Barnes never received proper care or treatment for his condition.
Florida’s Catholic bishops have been advocating for an end to the death penalty and have communicated their opposition to the governor’s office. The U.S. bishops, including Florida’s bishops, expressed their opposition to capital punishment in a letter to Pope Francis during a plenary meeting. They emphasized the need to protect the dignity of every human being and called the death penalty a “false answer.”
The decision to proceed with James Barnes’ execution has sparked renewed debates about the effectiveness and morality of the death penalty. As Florida prepares for its fifth execution of the year, advocates for alternative sentencing and mental health reform continue to call for change.
Source:
nnn.ng, Staff, July 20, 2023
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
FOLLOW US ON:
"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted."
— Oscar Wilde
