I commented on this subject in my April 3rd journal entry...
I also have an "Official Statement" and some other paperwork on this site regarding the matter of "murderabilia" and the selling of letters, autographs and novelty-type items which are sold by others.
This is something that grieves my heart. It is something that's been going on (in my case) ever since I was first arrested back in 1977. It may go on long after I'm dead and gone.
Selling crime collectibles is a big thing for some people. And with the execution of Oklahoma City Federal Building bomber, Timothy J. McVeigh, scheduled to die by lethal injection on May 16th at the federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana, you can be sure that these profiteers and makers of crime collectibles will be at work. Their new McVeigh-related products are now in the making or are all ready to go to market.
I had the feeling this would happen. So this afternoon when I came across a copy of the NEW YORK TIMES for Thursday, April 19, 2001, I was not at all surprised to see an article on the front page (page A-1) titled, "A City Consumed in Plans for McVeigh's Execution, by Sara Rimer.
The article had some comments by Terre Haute Mayor Judith A. Anderson, who said she had been getting a lot of calls by people asking if they can sell their McVeigh-related products. Mayor Anderson was quoted as saying, "A lot of people have been calling asking if they can sell T-shirts and buttons. Most of these sellers are planning on hawking their merchandise right outside the prison grounds in anticipation of the large crowds that may be gathered there."
Then the article mentioned one particular item. It said in part, "Already a T-shirt is being offered on eBay bearing a picture of a syringe and the words: Hoosier Hospitality. McVeigh/Terre Haute/May 16, 2001, Final Justice."
In any event, while things like this are inevitable, what was said in the article only confirms what I had said in my interview with ABC's 20/20 program, that the prisoners themselves are not the ones behind the making of such products.
I explained that there is no way an inmate who is confined to a maximum-security prison (like myself) could possibly be making and selling such "collectibles" as clocks, calendars, magnets, snow globes, trading cards, or serial killer board games.
Unknown to much of the public, all these products are not made by the criminals, but by seemingly ordinary law-abiding citizens who could not care less about any prisoners. Nor have they ever obtained permission from any of these incarcerated felons.
And quite frankly, I believe these entrepreneurs don't give a darn about the victims and/or surviving family members of the crimes that had been committed against them. These crime merchandise peddlers could not care less about the pain and grief many may suffer when they see a product with their son or daughter's picture on it, or the picture of the felon who took that person's life.
During the 20/20 interview I briefly quoted from the Old Testament prophet, Jeremiah. I said that the "heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked" (Jeremiah 17:9). I explained that there are people who, unfortunately, are selfish and are only out to make money. That they have no concern for the victims of violent crimes. And places like eBay are filled with such items for sale.
I am certainly not trying to be something of a moralist here, as I myself have done so much evil in the past, and I am so very sorry for this. But I believe it is time for many Americans to examine our consciences. We are a nation that has often idolized violence and glorified crime.
One day we're going to have to wake up and cry out to God for mercy and forgiveness. There are things in our society that are morally wrong. As a nation we need true repentance, a genuine godly sorrow over our propensities for violence, and our greed.
I say this ever so humbly, but we need help from the Lord, the One who is the Maker of heaven and earth.
D.B.
This is something that grieves my heart. It is something that's been going on (in my case) ever since I was first arrested back in 1977. It may go on long after I'm dead and gone.
Selling crime collectibles is a big thing for some people. And with the execution of Oklahoma City Federal Building bomber, Timothy J. McVeigh, scheduled to die by lethal injection on May 16th at the federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana, you can be sure that these profiteers and makers of crime collectibles will be at work. Their new McVeigh-related products are now in the making or are all ready to go to market.
I had the feeling this would happen. So this afternoon when I came across a copy of the NEW YORK TIMES for Thursday, April 19, 2001, I was not at all surprised to see an article on the front page (page A-1) titled, "A City Consumed in Plans for McVeigh's Execution, by Sara Rimer.
The article had some comments by Terre Haute Mayor Judith A. Anderson, who said she had been getting a lot of calls by people asking if they can sell their McVeigh-related products. Mayor Anderson was quoted as saying, "A lot of people have been calling asking if they can sell T-shirts and buttons. Most of these sellers are planning on hawking their merchandise right outside the prison grounds in anticipation of the large crowds that may be gathered there."
Then the article mentioned one particular item. It said in part, "Already a T-shirt is being offered on eBay bearing a picture of a syringe and the words: Hoosier Hospitality. McVeigh/Terre Haute/May 16, 2001, Final Justice."
In any event, while things like this are inevitable, what was said in the article only confirms what I had said in my interview with ABC's 20/20 program, that the prisoners themselves are not the ones behind the making of such products.
I explained that there is no way an inmate who is confined to a maximum-security prison (like myself) could possibly be making and selling such "collectibles" as clocks, calendars, magnets, snow globes, trading cards, or serial killer board games.
Unknown to much of the public, all these products are not made by the criminals, but by seemingly ordinary law-abiding citizens who could not care less about any prisoners. Nor have they ever obtained permission from any of these incarcerated felons.
And quite frankly, I believe these entrepreneurs don't give a darn about the victims and/or surviving family members of the crimes that had been committed against them. These crime merchandise peddlers could not care less about the pain and grief many may suffer when they see a product with their son or daughter's picture on it, or the picture of the felon who took that person's life.
During the 20/20 interview I briefly quoted from the Old Testament prophet, Jeremiah. I said that the "heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked" (Jeremiah 17:9). I explained that there are people who, unfortunately, are selfish and are only out to make money. That they have no concern for the victims of violent crimes. And places like eBay are filled with such items for sale.
I am certainly not trying to be something of a moralist here, as I myself have done so much evil in the past, and I am so very sorry for this. But I believe it is time for many Americans to examine our consciences. We are a nation that has often idolized violence and glorified crime.
One day we're going to have to wake up and cry out to God for mercy and forgiveness. There are things in our society that are morally wrong. As a nation we need true repentance, a genuine godly sorrow over our propensities for violence, and our greed.
I say this ever so humbly, but we need help from the Lord, the One who is the Maker of heaven and earth.
D.B.