You might know Mark David Chapman as the subject of that Mindless Self-Indulgence song or as J.D. Salinger's biggest fan. Oh, and he killed John Lennon. Yeah, about that...
As Reuters reports, Chapman is up for parole again this week, marking the seventh time he'll appear before New York state's Department of Corrections. Almost 32 years ago, Chapman asked the legendary Beatles singer for an autograph, then shot the musician in the back four times outside his apartment. Chapman pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced 20 years to life in prison.
The last six times Chapman was up for parole, he was bluntly denied. Yoko Ono wrote letters to the board, saying she feared for her life. (Honestly, that isn't likely, as Chapman's next target after Lennon was supposedly Ronald Reagan or Johnny Carson. You know, real celebrities.)
But what do non-famous folks have to say about the possibility of Chapman getting released on the streets? I took to Twitter and Facebook to find out what dumb, smartass, or otherwise oddball things people had to say.
So... beating someone in the face with a Louisville Slugger doesn't constitute as evil? Your logic suggests that fucking 12-year olds and preaching abstinence isn't hypocrisy. Hooray opposite day!
Yes, you probably are going to Hell, but at least your company in Hades will enjoy your jokes.
So you're saying Chapman did Lennon a favor?
Make that a double fantasy!
While Twitter is for clowns with no sense of shame, Facebook is serious business, guys! On Rolling Stone's report of Chapman's parole, I found these comments:
While I understand the thirst for blood, these two comments stuck with me the most:
Let's ask ourselves that age old question: WWJD? Or, What Would John Do? If asked, I highly doubt he'd say "smash his brains out with a blunt object" or "fry him in an electric chair." The murderer served his time, didn't he? Isn't he allowed a second chance?
In an interview with People Magazine in 1987, Chapman said, "It wasn't about them, necessarily. It was just about me; it was all about me at that time.
"I felt that by killing John Lennon I would become somebody," he said, "and instead of that I became a murderer and murderers are not somebodies.
"I made a horrible decision to end another human being's life for reasons of selfishness, and that was my decision at that time," he said.
Chapman has been remorseful, Lennon would have been merciful. What do you think?
