[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 11169]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



           THE DEATH PENALTY IS NOT WORTHY OF A GREAT NATION

  (Mr. LEWIS of Georgia asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, another man is gone. Another human 
being is gone. How long will we continue to travel down this inhumane 
road? The death penalty is not worthy of a great Nation. It is 
barbaric, it is uncivilized. What do we want, retribution, to get even, 
or to have revenge?
  I happen to believe that in every human being there is the spark of 
the divine, and no government, not State or federal, has the right to 
destroy that spark. That right is reserved for the Almighty and the 
Almighty alone. How can we appeal to our people, especially our young 
people, not to use an instrument of violence to settle their disputes, 
and then sanction killing, sentencing someone to death?
  It is time for us to join with the majority of the world and put an 
end to this form of barbaric punishment. It is time to put an end to 
the death penalty. Enough is enough, Mr. Speaker.

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