Judge James Ryan: "No Hope" for Muhammad

Sniper John Allen Muhammad was sentenced to six consecutive life terms without parole yesterday.

Maryland prosecutors and the victims' families consider the sentence insurance in case his death sentence in Virginia is thrown out.

"You chose the wrong community, sir, to stain with your acts of violence," Circuit Judge James Ryan said.

"You, Mr. Muhammad, have no hope. You have no future. You will spend the rest of your life locked in a cage."

I'm glad, very glad that John Muhammad and John Malvo will likely live out the rest of their lives in prison.

Judge Ryan has the authority to sentence Muhammad to six life terms, but he does not have the authority to pronounce judgment on whether Muhammad or anyone else has hope. Everyone, Muhammad included, can have Hope. Even if he is sentenced to die by lethal injection he can Hope if he repents.

I've heard it said that the death penalty can be an act of charity committed by the state. When you think about it, the final goal -- attaining everlasting life in heaven -- is the objective of the greatest acts of charity. Very few of us know when our last day will be. Confronting death can be sobering and, hopefully, will lead to taking stock before the final accounting.