Should dying Manson murderer be released?

Aquajock

Aquajock

Cathlete
I just read on the CNN.com website that one of the most avid and vicious of the Manson Family murderers, Susan Atkins, is dying of brain cancer at age 60 and has requested a compassionate release from the California prison system given that she has approximately 6 months to live according to her doctors.

With the total understanding that my opinion has precisely zero impact on this case in particular or the world in general, I'm really on the fence about this one. Atkins, the record shows, participated in slaughtering five people (including young, pregnant Sharon Tate and four others) one night, then a middle-aged couple the next night, in 1969. She even told poor Tate, who begged for mercy for herself and her unborn child, "B*tch, I have no mercy for you." And, after a lengthy, painful and expensive trial, she and her compatriots, and Charles Manson, were all found guilty, initially sentenced to the death penalty and then later to life imprisonment when California (long-term-temporarily) abandoned the death penalty. And now . . . she asks for mercy for herself.

What is justice here? Should life imprisonment be indeed life (and death) imprisonment regardless of how one has served out her sentence? According to her, she has become a born-again Christian and has worked with at-risk youth during her incarceration. It is doubtful she poses a threat to society now. It is probable that her remaining incarceration would be quite expensive given her medical condition and needs.

An argument could also be made that, if ANYONE deserves to die in prison because of the heinousness of his/her crimes, it would be Atkins and Manson, and the others directly involved in the mass killings. If Atkins's request is approved, how many other requests might follow?

I'm interested in others' opinions on this one. Thanks for reading, and your responses.

A-Jock
 
I think she should stay in prison. I think life imprisonment should be for life, especially when her sentence was originally the death penalty. There are always exceptions to the rule, but I don't think she should be one of them. I also don't think she should be let out because of the precident that would/could set.


Deanie
 
I feel the same Deanie. I read 'Helter Skelter' years ago and my blood still runs cold when I think about the events of those nights all those years ago. With no malice towards Ms. Atkins I feel that she should absolutely stay in prison. Sharon Tate and her unborn child were innocents, denied a future and subjected to a fierce and unimaginably terrifying end at the hand of a merciless human. It's not like Ms. Atkins will be left to die on a concrete floor, prisons have in house health care facilities, they'll show her some mercy. It's lovely that Ms. Atkins has found Jesus and has made some positive impact in other's lives but Jesus knows where to find her when she breathes her last.

I've re-read this, admit that it sounds cold but it's my gut and God's honest opinion.

Take Care
Laurie
 
I grew up in Santa Barbara, about an hour from Hollywood when that massacre took place and was old enough to understand what happened.

That murder spree of Mr. Manson's was one of the most gruesome that is on record. Charlie's followers were so brainwashed it was pretty pitiful, but still I cannot imagine anyone doing and saying some of the things that took place that night.

Just like he tries to get out each time he is up for parole, his followers should remain in custody for life too.
 
She should absolutly stay in prison. no mercy was given to S.T. when she pleaded for the life of her baby. She also said she thought about cutting the baby out of S.T.and taking the fetus but didn't have time. No mercy to Atkins.
 
" . . . Jesus knows where to find her when she breathes her last."

Laurie, that's an excellent point regarding the faith and conversion issue. As a wistful agnostic, I often hope that there is a Heaven and a loving God, who, when Tate and Sebring and Voykowski and Folger and Garretson and the LaBiancas were forced to their terrifying, torturous end, took them into His arms and told them that they should not have had to leave this earth in that manner but that they would never feel another moment's pain or fear. As I feel for all homicide victims. Atkins and the rest of the Manson Family have been shown far more mercy, by being allowed to continue living, than they showed their victims. And it will ever by thus.

Jacque, you also brought up a point about the brainwashing Manson exacted over his followers that I've often thought about. I often wondered what might have happened to me if, at an earlier and more vulnerable time in my life, I might have encountered a Manson; after much turning the thing around, I believe I might have become one of his sexual assault victims but not a murderer. Linda Kasabian, another member of the Family who was present during at least one of the nights in question, never raised her hand to harm any of them. Prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi forcefully made the point that, even though it was clear Manson was the instigator and ringleader (and murderer himself the second night), those who carried out his directives were in and of themselves predisposed to physical violence in their own right.

A-Jock
 
She granted no mercy and no mercy should be granted her. Are we to feel sympathy for a cold-blooded killer? I agree with the others: LIFE should mean LIFE when there's no doubt as to the individuals' guilt. As if being allowed to live wasn't "reward" enough. She shouldn't have gotten that much.
 
I also lived in Southern Cal at the time of the Manson murders. If I remember right it was in 1969 and I would have been 10. I will never forget the terror in all the communities after those massacres.

I am in complete agreement with Laurie and will always remember her quote about Atkins: "Jesus knows where to find her when she breathes her last"

I have thought hard about what A-Jock said about being vulnerable, as that seems the time for someone like Manson to get to you. I have never though I could be brainwashed in any way, but when crisis's hit you, you really don't know how you would react to someone like him.

I too read Helter Skelter and have always been a Bugliosi fan. I thought he did a great job in prosecuting the Manson Family.

Susan Atkins should stay right where she is IMO.
 
From a purely economic standpoint, if she is released, the state and the taxpayers don't have the obligation of paying for her on-going medical and hospice care.

BUT - everyone is dying. She was sentenced to life in prison and she just so happens to know NOW that she is dying. Whereas the inmate who wakes up tomorrow and has a massive coronary is also dying. The sentence is the sentence, regardless of how heinous the act was that brought the sentence.


Lorrie

www.picturetrail.com/lsass
 
No Way! Shes stays in prison. She will receive treatment and will be cared for.

Aren't the jails are full of born again christians? Whats that got to do with anything? I bet its only now (after her diagonis) she says "I'm sorry, I was brainwashed. I love jesus" blah blah blah....

Do I sympathise? No! She is one horrendous creature (along with the others) and they should stay where they are. No mercy.

Jesus will find her -in jail.

Andrea
 
I pretty much agree with everyone else who has posted so far. Atkins should remain in prison. Period. I have no sympathy for these inmates that become born-again Christians. Even if she poses no threat to society now, she did an unthinkable crime that is unforgivable. She should've gotten the death penalty, but that's a whole other topic...
 
She should remain in prison. I think that is all I'm going to say b/c it makes me sick to think about what the victims and their families went through and I should just stop now.
Angela
 
You know, I'm no biblical scholar but isn't there something in The Bible about accepting your just punishment without whining? If she were truly born again it seems to me she'd know that. I believe Martin Luther referred to such individuals as being smitten with "cheap grace." Being a believer in my own way I'll just be glad when the b*tch is face-to-face with God and has to justify her choices to Him. Best of luck, Princess.
 
No, indeed. She is no less culpable, and her crimes no less heinous, today than before she became ill. I believe her medical condition to be totally irrelevant to her culpability and the penalty she should pay for her crimes. Her crimes are more horrible than many for which defendants receive the death penalty. She was spared the death penalty and received a life sentence, and she should serve it out. Can you imagine how the families of the victims will feel if she is permitted to choose how she spends her final months on earth? Given the terrifying and violent manner in which her victims were forced to live their final moments, the irony alone would be unbearable.
 
The sentence should not change based upon a murderer's wants. They forfeit that attention upon entering the system, especially if the sentence is life. That means for the duration of your life, not just your "healthy" life.
The final judgement is not for me to pass, but her judgement here on earth needs to reach its conclusion as it was given.
 
>You know, I'm no biblical scholar but isn't there something
>in The Bible about accepting your just punishment without
>whining? If she were truly born again it seems to me she'd
>know that. I believe Martin Luther referred to such
>individuals as being smitten with "cheap grace." Being a
>believer in my own way I'll just be glad when the b*tch is
>face-to-face with God and has to justify her choices to Him.
>Best of luck, Princess.


AMEN! :)
 
Someone who has found God and is truly repentant would accept the punishment that they have been handed for their actions... and that is all I have to say about it. ;)

Missy
 
My vote is she should stay in prison. I'm a believer in the punishment should fit the crime. She took lives. Her life was spared. She should fulfill her life sentence.
 
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