Letters to the Editor	Letters Archive

Prisoner's warnings

I just received the December issue tonight and read your editorial. I was happy that you have a liberal view of prisoners.

I have been in prison since I was 16 years old. I killed a 28-year-old paranoid-schizophrenic ex-prisoner who had drugged and molested me. When I woke he scurried for a pistol and I grabbed a shotgun and shot him in the neck. I was ashamed to tell anyone so I made up another story that we had an argument and I shot him. My best friend (who I had a major crush on but was scared to tell him) told the police.

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The police kept questioning me all day without food or water, refused me a lawyer, and wouldn't let my Dad see me. Yes, it still happens! To make it short, they made me say I thought about my crime beforehand. I told the truth at trial, but the "confession" landed me a life sentence in my second trial. (The first ended with a hung jury-- eleven not guilty to one manslaughter.) My lawyer did not challenge the "confession" or obtain the guy's mental health or prison records.

I'm trying to get back in court now. If I get the courts to listen to my issues, I will go home. The problem is I'm having problems on procedural issues because my ex-lover, a fellow prisoner and a paralegal, sabotaged my case so that I would not leave him in here. He went home last year, though.

All this for nothing. All the fucking dude I killed had to do was ask for some sex and I would have went for it as long as I didn't feel threatened. I first had serious sex with another boy at 13, so it was not new. I just was low-key with it for fear of rejection.

Anyhow, I'm also writing to point out that sometimes those DOC prisoner websites are wrong. I have seen guys' descriptions be so wrong as to list a black guy's race as white and vice versa. Then there are the "pen-pal hustlers." Seventy-five percent of those guys aren't even gay or bisexual. This is just how they make money. I see these guys getting big money, jewelry, and even lawyers from gay pen-pals. It really makes me mad that they give us all a bad name.

On the other hand, I have spent $13,000 of my Granny's last funds on lawyers who screw me around, so I would be lying if I said I wouldn't be happy to find a lawyer pen-pal or someone with enough money to help pay for one. I have two motions in court now, and I want out of here.

a prisoner
Tomoka Correctional Institute
Daytona Beach, Florida

Who would Jesus fuck?

I just saw the episode of Nightline where Ted Koppel was interviewing homosexual young people. One of the young men stated that he felt the general consensus among Christians is that anyone gay, lesbian, or transgender would go to hell because they weren't "christian" (small c, his quotations).

However, as a straight, born-again Christian, I felt moved to write this letter to clarify the Truth-- you are not going to hell if you believe Jesus died for you. To be saved, you don't have to be good enough or perfect enough, because all people have sinned. Ask Him to forgive your sins and be your Savior. It's not that complicated. If you've felt alienated by Christians, I ask you to consider that people will always let you down, but God never will. You can trust Him with your life, because He loves you. How many Christians have told you that lately? I'm glad I could. Now, pick up a plain-English version of the Bible (John 3:16 is a nice place to start). Let's quit arguing about what it means to be a Christian, and start reading about love, joy, peace, and everything He wants to say to you.

R.N. Franklin
Fort Worth, Texas

Broke and lonely

Concerning my Male Box personal that I sent you in 2002, I have not received any mail from you or others. I'm beginning to think that money is gone and there is no happiness in my life at this time. I sent money and the mail man don't stop at my box. I'm very sad and disappointed.

E. W.
Raiford, Florida