An Eye for an Eye Makes the Whole World Blind- Save Tyler Robinson’s Life

Spencer J. Cox
Governor of Utah
State Capitol Complex
350 State Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84114

Dear Governor Cox,

I am writing to you today as a concerned citizen of Utah, urging you to reconsider the use of the death penalty for Tyler Robinson. The state-sanctioned taking of life contradicts our values of mercy, compassion, and the sacredness of life, which are core principles found in both our legal system and the teachings of many faith traditions, including Christianity. As a nurse, the death penalty has always been very disturbing to me. Utah, being a highly Christian state, should take the high road and preserve life whenever possible. 

While I understand the anger and frustration many may feel towards Tyler’s actions, it is ill advised to punish him with death to satisfy a call for revenge.  As stated in Romans  12:19- Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.          

Being raised Christian, I find it impossible to reconcile the practice of the death penalty with the message of forgiveness and redemption taught in Scripture. Jesus Christ, in His teachings, continually advocated for love, mercy, and the forgiveness of others.

 For example, in the Gospels of Matthew, He commands, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). This profound call to love even those who wrong us is a direct counterpoint to the violent retribution of the death penalty. 

In the Gospel of John, Jesus extends grace to a woman caught in adultery, saying, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone” (John 8:7). This verse serves as a reminder that none of us are without fault, and thus, none of us are in a position to deliver irreversible punishment upon another. Let God judge Tyler. 

The death penalty disregards the possibility of rehabilitation, redemption, and the transformative power of forgiveness. It also fails to consider the irreversible nature of a mistake, whether in legal judgment or in the irreversible loss of a life.

In the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul writes, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil… If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” (Romans 12:17-20). This passage speaks to the Christian commitment to respond to wrongdoing with mercy, not retribution. While we must seek justice, that justice need not come at the expense of compassion.

I am not blind to the pain and suffering caused by violent crime, nor do I wish to diminish the grief that victims and their families endure. However, I believe that a society’s response to crime should not mirror the very violence it seeks to address. Violence met with more violence only helps to maintain this cycle we seem stuck in. Instead, we are called to find ways of achieving justice that honor the dignity of all human life, recognizing that no one is beyond the reach of redemption.

It is with these principles in mind that I respectfully ask you to take a stand against the death penalty for Tyler Robinson, a young man, who made a terrible mistake. By doing so, we would not only align with the Christian values of mercy and grace, but also with the growing movement in this nation and around the world toward more humane and restorative forms of justice.

From a practial stance,  evidence suggests that the death penalty does not deter crime more effectively than life imprisonment. In fact, some studies show that it may even increase violent crime. Capital punishment cases are significantly more expensive than cases where the maximum punishment is life imprisonment. 

I implore you, Governor Cox, to lead with compassion and take meaningful steps not to fall into the trap of anger and revenge. May we strive to build a society that reflects the teachings of peace, justice, and mercy.

Thank you for your time and consideration.