Murdering a murderermakes us murderers

John Muhammed, the DC sniper, convicted of a killing spree that terrorized the capital beltway in October 2002, was put to death yesterday. He was administered three lethal injections and pronounced dead at 9:11. pm. Present at the execution, according to reports, were relatives of his 10 victims as well as an AP reporter and others. Mr Muhammad had been arrested, tried and convicted of murder.
However dangerous he'd proven while at large, at the time of his execution, Mr Muhammad posed no threat to society. Most people had forgotten about the incident and therefore no one could claim that his execution would deter copycats. So it was then payback. An eye for an eye. Retribution. Sadism justice.
Despite his crimes, at the time of his execution Mr Muhammed was unarmed. Killing an unarmed man is murder. Mr. Muhammad was murdered. Whether by a sniper's bullet, or the executioner's injection, murder is murder. Witnesses, whatever their reasons, participated in a sadistic voyeuristic ritual.