Mormon Church OKs Eliminating Firing Squads

[Brown]

I'm not sure what to make of this. From Yahoo and the AP: (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=519&e=16&u=/ap/20030905/ap_on_re_us/firing_squad_church_2)Hoping to clear the way for eliminating the firing squad as a means of execution, a Utah commission asked for and received a statement from the Mormon church saying it does not oppose the change.
...
The clarification was needed, according to one commission member, because of a purported church doctrine that held that justice was not done unless a murderer's blood was shed.

The Mormon statement removes a significant obstacle in Utah's effort to do away with firing-squad executions. On the one hand, local politicians need to be sensitive to the desires of their constituents. But on the other hand, this article almost suggests that the Church (not the citizens) calls the shots as to which laws ought to be allowed.

[Crossbow]

I remember hearing about this issue a while back when they were first consulted and thinking "Those whacky Mormons!"

[Nyarlathotep]

Originally posted by Brown
I'm not sure what to make of this. From Yahoo and the AP: (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=519&e=16&u=/ap/20030905/ap_on_re_us/firing_squad_church_2)On the one hand, local politicians need to be sensitive to the desires of their constituents. But on the other hand, this article almost suggests that the Church (not the citizens) calls the shots as to which laws ought to be allowed.

In Utah, they just about do.

By the way was your use of the pharase "calls the shots" an intentional pun?

[Furious]

Dunno if I'd make too much of this.

The Mormon church is a pretty powerful special interest group in Utah, and after the recent Alabama hoopla, they are probably just checking their bases to make sure it doesn't become an embarassment on a national scale.

I'd be more worried about the power of a special interest group more than the fact that it was a religious institution they were getting the ok from. Right or wrong, local teacher's unions, MADD chapters, farming collectives and many other local special interest groups have clout in the legislative process, and its smart to get their view (even if you propose a law diametrically opposed to its beliefs) before it might get elevated beyond your local environment. Gives the commission a chance to soften the language or come up with some sort of compromise that might be less offensive.

[Skeptical Greg]

Originally posted by Brown
.....
On the one hand, local politicians need to be sensitive to the desires of their constituents. But on the other hand, this article almost suggests that the Church (not the citizens) calls the shots as to which laws ought to be allowed.

Isn't that sort of moot, if most of the citizens ( and local politicians ) are members of the Church, anyway..?

[Brown]

Originally posted by Diogenes
Isn't that sort of moot, if most of the citizens ( and local politicians ) are members of the Church, anyway..? I'm wondering the same thing. If Mormons are a lock-step group who nod their heads to whatever the church says, then getting the church's position on this point would reflect the view of many citizens.

[hgc]

The clarification was needed, according to one commission member, because of a purported church doctrine that held that justice was not done unless a murderer's blood was shed.Just a pin-prick ought to do it.

[RSLancastr]

While Mormons are not a homogenous, monolithic group as some might think, I believe that a majority of Mormons (particularly Utah Mormons, a breed apart) would want to know the church's official position on this particular issue before voiting on it.

Clearing it with the church was probably a wise move.

[RandFan]

Originally posted by RSLancastr
While Mormons are not a homogenous, monolithic group as some might think, I believe that a majority of Mormons (particularly Utah Mormons, a breed apart) would want to know the church's official position on this particular issue before voiting on it.

Clearing it with the church was probably a wise move. Mormons like to think of themselves as independant and to some degree they are. However there are many issues that Mormons look to the church for guidance on how to think and vote.

To be fair the Mormon church with very few exceptions tell them how to vote. But they do tell them what is right and what is wrong on many issues (abortion) so it is almost the same thing.

This (doctrine of shedding blood) has come up before. This is an apocrophyl belief that IIRC was practiced in the early church. The idea is that certain sins (murder and at one time adultery) had to be paid for in part with the sinners blood. They had to die.

There are stories including a made for TV movie staring Charleton Heston as Brigham Young and Tom Berranger that tell of individuls whose job it was to kill those found guilty (vigalante style). Who knows.

The church has not held this as true AIU for some time but has not been too anxious to disabuse the members of it.

RandFan,

Recovering Mormon.

[American]

I find the idea of firing squads more appealing than a cold, clinical needle. Very different psychological effects. Though more violent, I think the squad method is kinder and more appropriate.