Justice for All

In Houston, Texas, on October 13, 1980, a hot dog vender was shot and killed by two men, Willie Williams and Joseph Nichols. Both were arrested and tried for their crime. There was only one problem; only one bullet struck and killed the vender. Both of these men now sit on death row. One might ask why if only one person killed the man why are both scheduled to die (Syndor). The inconsistent and corrupt death penalty system sent a violent yet innocent man to his death.

Texas has been ridiculed and berated for the extremely high number of convicts executed since the death penalty was reinstated nationally in 1976. Statistically, Texas alone accounts for approximately 35% of all executions in the United States, 351 out of a national total of 987. And Texas has nearly four times as many executions as Virginia, the state with the second highest execution rate (“Number of Executions”). There are many theories which try to explain this phenomenon, but whatever the reason the problem must be solved. The death penalty is necessary; I firmly believe there are some people who have committed crimes so heinous that the only punishment conceivable is death. But I also