I want to try to ask a question. Do you think the life sentence of Lionel Tate was just? Does professional wrestling bear any of the blame? Do his parents or the victims parents share any guilt? When my son was 2 he started hitting after watching Batman.

In Christ, Nathan Paujo

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2001

Answers

Greetings: Lionel is a product of the evil influenses of etertainment, Jesus said that woe to the man through whom the sin comes. We live in age of techknowledgy that is causing many to be led into darkness away from God. I pray for Lionel as his soul has been taken captive by the seeds of death, What he did and how they are punishing him are unjust. Let us pray that God saves him, and let us speak out against Satans lies of movies and songs, wrestling. Have a blessed day!

-- Anonymous, March 09, 2001

Lionel Tate's life imprisonment sentence is clearly excessive punishment for a tragic yet unintended death. The judge's sentencing guidelines appear to be tainted with a punitive intent. This ruling is unmoral and should be overruled by a higher court. Concerned Christians should contact President Bush and lobby for a commutation of his sentence. QED

-- Anonymous, March 10, 2001

The sentence is excessive. But the judge had NO choice. Once the boy was tried as an adult, the sentence was mandatory. Two things however: The mother and her son was repeatedly offered a plea bargain that would have given him three years in youth prison but they would not accept. The mother waqs babysitting the little 6-year old girl but she was asleep. Lastly, the same group that is pushing for hate crime legislation also pushed for mandatory sentencing taking the judge out of the sentencing process. This is what caused this horrible mistake. Be careful about this hate crime stuff because it will backfire and you will find more blacks charged with hate crimes in black on white crime. Blessings Pastor Paris

-- Anonymous, March 10, 2001

I am not speaking as an expert of Political Science. But the say the a Judge has no choice, takes away his power and sense of judgment. He/She does have a final say.

In other words, are you saying the jury of peers and lawyers set up the parameters or boundaries for the judges. And for him to use a judgment other than life for a child would be going against rules, becuse he was tried as an Adult. Somehow leaders will have to act on their convictions and integrity. Use the power as a means of God- given authority able to discern what is right/wrong.

Is this also the reason why we can't blame governors who have the power to order a stay of execution, because he/she doesn't want to go against the grain of an already set rule? I don't know about this. I think those in high authority need to take their final decisions more seriously.

And in response to the hate crime. Blacks seemed to be getting their fair share of being charged for a hate crime when it comes to blacks killing whites. What...the sentence will be higher than life?

In Christ, Carmen

-- Anonymous, March 13, 2001

Carmen, sometimes the judges hands are tied. In Ohio, there are situations in which the sentence is mandated by state or possibly even county/city law and the judge serves more or less as a "moderator" to ensure a fair trial, but once the verdict of guilty is reached, the sentence is mandated.

In some cases, these mandatory sentences came about as a result of the people's becoming weary of lenient sentences meted out by judges.

One thing that I have NOT heard is WHY did the mother and the boy's attornies turn down the plea bargain. Were they so sure Lionel would not be convicted? Also,does not the governor also have commutation powers?

I should think that a life sentence for a crime committed by a 14 year old would qualify as "cruel and unusual" punishment and is therefore unconstitutional. We haven't heard the end of this yet.

-- Anonymous, March 13, 2001

Gov. Bush of Florida and President Bush has the power to change this travesty. I am sure that they will. The courts must finish first and at the most politically expedient time one of the Bushes will act. I hate the politics involved but the verdict must be corrected. By the way, where is Jesse Jackson now? Is there no money for him in this case? Blessings

Pastor Paris

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2001

Yes, I do think that the sentence was just. Have you seen pictures of the murdered girl? In your country I think the offender frequently becomes the victim.

-- Anonymous, February 03, 2003

I don't believe the sentence was just. Clearly, this child did not understand the ramifications of his actions. It was not an intentional act; he did not set out to hurt her. To punish him so severely is horrific. What is going to become of him. People who intentionally kill others don't even get such a harsh and severe punishment. Does it not even make a difference that Tiffany's own mother and the prosecutor both felt that the decisions was severe? And to the person who remarked that Lionel's mother turned down the plea bargain more than once, I have this to say: If you thought your child was innocent and that there was no way he would be acquitted, would you have accepted any plea bargain agreement that would make him spend any time? I would think not. In retrospect, I know she would have taken the plea bargain if she knew that he would have been found guilty. God bless them all, especially Tiffany's mother. They are all in my prayers. To Lionel, I say "keep the faith" and know that despite what people think, God knows your heart. If you have asked for forgiveness for your actions, he has already forgiven you. Hang in there.

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2003