Brad Sigmon was shot to death last week. It was his choice.

Sigmon, age 67, was executed by firing squad on March 9 in South Carolina. He was the first person to die by firing squad in the United States in 15 years.

No question about it, he was guilty of murder. But check out his last words: “I want my closing statement to be one of love and a calling to my fellow Christians to help us end the death penalty. An eye for an eye was used as justification to the jury for seeking the death penalty. At that time, I was too ignorant to know how wrong that was.”

Jeffrey Collins, veteran writer for the Associated Press: “I won’t forget the crack of the rifles Friday and that target disappearing. Also etched in my mind: Sigmon talking or mouthing toward his lawyer, trying to let him know he was OK before the hood went on.”

I’ve written many pieces opposing the death penalty. Perhaps I’m beating on a dead drum. But, I shall not stop. I assure you that I’m not a left-wink, pinko “commie” nut who wants to free all criminals. I’m a legitimate journalist, qualified to speak on the topic because I actually witnessed an execution. The state of Texas took the life of my friend Anthony while I watched.

Let’s go back to South Carolina for a minute.

Humane treatment took a step backward! South Carolina had had some capital punishment problems with lethal injections. There were accusations of torture. The state responded by requiring people with death sentences to choose how they want to die. They are now given options between three painful, inhumane methods: lethal injection, electrocution or firing squad.

My buddy Charles Anthony Nealy, who preferred the name Anthony, was executed by lethal injection on March 20, 2007, in Huntsville, Texas … convicted for the robbery and murder of a convenience store owner and operator. As the founder of an organization then called INNOCENT, and as a personal friend, I was asked to be his spiritual advisor. I prayed with him before he was killed. The state of Texas refused to let us hug.

I am convinced that Anthony was wrongly convicted. And, I share this statistic: For every eight people executed in the United States, one person wrongfully condemned to death has been exonerated. Those figures have been validated by the Death Penalty Information Center.

In addition, consider these characteristics of men and women who are sentenced to the death penalty: Most grew up poor, in chaos and experienced abuse as children.

It’s time for those of us who claim to be Jesus followers to take a strong stand against capital punishment. My own denomination has refused to do that, despite the recommendation of a committee on which I was honored to serve. But, the Roman Catholics are on it. Pope Francis has consistently opposed capital punishment, calling it "inadmissible" and an "attack on human dignity." He has urged the Catholic Church and all people of good will to work toward its abolition.

More than 140 countries have abolished the death penalty in law or in practice. I’m proud to say that the state of Michigan has abolished it. I’m saddened to report that our country has not.

In the year 2000, UN General Secretary-General Kofi Annan said: “The forfeiture of life is too absolute, too irreversible, for one human being to inflict on another, even when backed by legal process. It is tragic that, while the nations debate this problem, people continue to be executed.”

Twenty-five people were executed in the United States in 2024. We can expect even more this year.

Tomorrow, Louisiana prepares its first execution by suffocating a prisoner to death. The state will be using nitrogen gas after a 15-year pause. Jessie Hoffman Jr., who was convicted in a 1996 murder, has argued the method of nitrogen hypoxia would violate his ability to practice his Buddhist breathing techniques. If nitrogen hypoxia is used, an inmate breathes 100% nitrogen, which causes suffocation. Louisiana is one of four states that have approved it for executions.

I can tell you this: After watching Anthony take his last breath, I wanted two things: to get out of Texas as fast as I could, and to see if a long, hot shower could help wash away those filth-laden memories.

Sister Helen Prejean, leading American advocate for the abolition of the death penalty and author of the best-selling book, "Dead Man Walking," came to Grand Haven for a Humanity for Prisoners event in 2018.

She has accompanied six men to their deaths. Her words: "I'm fighting like heck for their life. I don't just take my role as spiritual adviser to be able to accompany them to death and go quietly into their death. I get the legal team whatever is needed so they're not killed. I resist their death in every way I can. When they have been killed, it either paralyzes you or galvanizes you. It galvanizes me."

May it galvanize all of us.

— Doug Tjapkes is the founder of Humanity for Prisoners and resides in Ferrysburg.