How many must die?

If the only evidence that convicted him was not physical evidence – it was the evidence of witnesses. Seven of the nine recanted. How can you say that's enough to take a life? –Reverend Al Sharpton

How to recognize when the news is grim? When you find yourself agreeing with Al Sharpton.

I don't know whether Troy Davis is innocent, and neither do any of the others who are speaking out against his execution.

But I do know that executing an innocent man achieves nothing. Next time someone says "I'd rather execute an innocent man than let a guilty one walk free," point out that every time we execute an innocent person the guilty party does walk free! Three crimes are perpetrated: the original crime, the murder of the innocent by the government, and the abdication of the responsibility of finding the real criminal.

How many must die before we recognize the obvious: that the death penalty is flawed, and if we're going to use it, it should only be in the most egregious, glaringly obvious cases. Troy Davis is going to be executed with no physical evidence and shaky eyewitness testimony.

If that doesn't appall you, then ask yourself this: what is preventing you, or someone you love, from being put to death for someone else's crime?