Shawna Forde Sentenced to Death

by Pa Rock
Citizen Journalist


Arizona vigilante Shawna Forde has been sentenced to death for her part in the cold-blooded killings of Raul Flores and his nine-year-old daughter, Brisenia.

Ms. Forde, a self-styled “minuteman,” and two male associates stormed into the Flores’ home in rural Arizona nearly two years ago while posing as immigration officers.  Once inside they shot Mr. Flores and Brisenia’s mother.   The mother survived by playing dead, but then had to listen in mute horror as little Brisenia begged in vain to be spared.

Shawna Forde, who once published a tea party blog, is being cast as a martyr by some of the right-wing crazies who seem to be so prevalent in Arizona.  In addition to her past association with the Tea Party, Ms. Forde also has a history with two minutemen (militia) organizations and reportedly had an involvement with the “pro-life” movement at some level.    None of those constituencies seem to be overtly rising to her defense.

Martyrdom for Shawna Forde is ludicrous.  But it is equally senseless to put this cruel and seemingly worthless human being to death.   Killing Shawna Forde would do nothing to bring back Raul or Brisenia Flores, nor would it atone for the horror that Shawna and her little band of thugs inflicted on the family, their friends and relatives, and society.

Ms. Forde needs to be sentenced to life in one of Arizona’s notorious corporate prisons.  There, sitting in a cage for the rest of her natural life, she could reflect on what a tragic waste she allowed her life to become.  She might even develop a conscience and go on to be of some benefit to society. 

Shawna Forde’s death would achieve nothing, and it might even be an undeserved kindness to her.