Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine refused to spare the life of John Allen Muhammad—who was sentenced to die for the sniper killings that terrorized the Washington, D.C., area in 2002—and John Muhammad was put to death by lethal injection at 9:11 p.m. Tuesday. Will the D.C. sniper execution let relatives of the dead, and everyone traumatized by the killing spree, put the horror behind them? (Watch the announcement of the death of D.C. sniper John Muhammad)
Muhammad deserves to die: John Allen Muhammad's lawyer had asked for clemency, says Cathryn Friar in Right Pundits, saying John Muhammad is a severely mentally ill man who suffered from Gulf War syndrome. "Well, cry me a river!" Forget about Muhammad and his young accomplice, Lee Boyd Malvo—the ones who matter now are the victims' families, who "must be feeling: anxiety, relief, loss, grief, re-lived pain, fear, anger, justice." With the D.C. sniper execution, they've relived "the nightmare" one more time—now they can move on.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.