Today two events have taken place which provide yet more proof that we should leave the European Union.
Firstly, less than a week after the horrific murder of Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich comes the conviction of Mark Bridger for the murder of April Jones in Machynlleth. He has yet to be sentenced, but neither he nor the brutal thugs who killed one of our soldiers will be given the penalty that they deserve. They should be executed.
The Bible is quite unequivocal on this subject. Genesis 9:6 says, "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God he made man." This verse comes as part of God's covenant with Noah; it was not part of the Mosaic law - given to the Children of Israel - but God's mandate to the governments of all nations.
It may sound barbaric and cruel for a Christian to be arguing for the return of capital punishment, but Christians recognise the uniqueness of the human being. We are made in the image and likeness of God - the jewel of His Creation. Murder, as Dr. Cornelis van Dam argues, is "therefore not just against man, but also against God." The Mosaic Law introduces some vital safeguards to ensure that there is no miscarriage of justice: there must be two or three witnesses present (Deuteronomy 17:6-7) , and the killing must be deliberate.
The witness requirement ought easily to be met in the case of the Woolwich murder, and there is no doubt this was a deliberate killing. However, the killers cannot be put to death while we remain a member of the Europrean Union. The Lisbon Treaty, which Gordon Brown signed on our behalf, states that, "No one shall be condemned to the death penalty, or executed.", and every EU member state has signed ECHR protocol 13, which prohibits the use of the death penalty in all circumstances. Until we are a free nation, these killers may not be punished in the manner decreed in the Word of God.
A further reason to leave the EU has kindly been provided for us by the European Commission, who are considering fining the UK for not providing social security benefits to non-UK citizens. We impose a "right to reside" test before anyone is eligible for benefits. UK nationals have a “right to reside” in the UK solely on the basis of their UK citizenship, whereas other EU nationals have to meet additional conditions in order to pass this “right to reside” test. This is perfectly fair. Why should we pay child benefit to a man whose wife and children are living in another country? This is common sense - unless you are a Eurocrat, that is. Iaian Duncan-Smith, the Work and Pensions Secretary, has made it clear that he will fith the Commission all the way. We can only hope he is a s good as his word.
Stephen Booth of the Open Europe think tank has pointed out the sheer folly of the European Commission. It has, he says, "thrown a political hand-grenade into two deeply controversial domestic debates: Europe and immigration. It is the worst possible issue to challenge the UK on, and at the worst possible time."
Or is it the best possible time? Withdrawalism has built up a head of steam in recent months. We are better off out, and if the European Commission's idiocy gives a further boost to our exit, then their intervention can only be regarded as a blessing in disguise.
Firstly, less than a week after the horrific murder of Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich comes the conviction of Mark Bridger for the murder of April Jones in Machynlleth. He has yet to be sentenced, but neither he nor the brutal thugs who killed one of our soldiers will be given the penalty that they deserve. They should be executed.
The Bible is quite unequivocal on this subject. Genesis 9:6 says, "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God he made man." This verse comes as part of God's covenant with Noah; it was not part of the Mosaic law - given to the Children of Israel - but God's mandate to the governments of all nations.
It may sound barbaric and cruel for a Christian to be arguing for the return of capital punishment, but Christians recognise the uniqueness of the human being. We are made in the image and likeness of God - the jewel of His Creation. Murder, as Dr. Cornelis van Dam argues, is "therefore not just against man, but also against God." The Mosaic Law introduces some vital safeguards to ensure that there is no miscarriage of justice: there must be two or three witnesses present (Deuteronomy 17:6-7) , and the killing must be deliberate.
The witness requirement ought easily to be met in the case of the Woolwich murder, and there is no doubt this was a deliberate killing. However, the killers cannot be put to death while we remain a member of the Europrean Union. The Lisbon Treaty, which Gordon Brown signed on our behalf, states that, "No one shall be condemned to the death penalty, or executed.", and every EU member state has signed ECHR protocol 13, which prohibits the use of the death penalty in all circumstances. Until we are a free nation, these killers may not be punished in the manner decreed in the Word of God.
A further reason to leave the EU has kindly been provided for us by the European Commission, who are considering fining the UK for not providing social security benefits to non-UK citizens. We impose a "right to reside" test before anyone is eligible for benefits. UK nationals have a “right to reside” in the UK solely on the basis of their UK citizenship, whereas other EU nationals have to meet additional conditions in order to pass this “right to reside” test. This is perfectly fair. Why should we pay child benefit to a man whose wife and children are living in another country? This is common sense - unless you are a Eurocrat, that is. Iaian Duncan-Smith, the Work and Pensions Secretary, has made it clear that he will fith the Commission all the way. We can only hope he is a s good as his word.
Stephen Booth of the Open Europe think tank has pointed out the sheer folly of the European Commission. It has, he says, "thrown a political hand-grenade into two deeply controversial domestic debates: Europe and immigration. It is the worst possible issue to challenge the UK on, and at the worst possible time."
Or is it the best possible time? Withdrawalism has built up a head of steam in recent months. We are better off out, and if the European Commission's idiocy gives a further boost to our exit, then their intervention can only be regarded as a blessing in disguise.