Where Mercy Is Shown, Mercy Is Given - Duane Dog Chapman [68]
When they told me they were putting the show back into production, the executives from the network said they had all the confidence in the world that our audience would be there for us when we hit the air—and boy were they right. Our premiere episode debuted with 30 percent more viewers than we had had when we were taken off the air. The Dog was back and bigger than ever.
By the time the show aired, I finally felt free. I was back on television, it felt like I had been forgiven for my ignorance, I was back to bounty hunting, and I was finally out of the federal government’s hold. I no longer had to ask for permission to travel in the United States, as I had while my Mexican extradition case was still open. There were no more restrictions placed on what I could or couldn’t do, and I felt totally and completely emancipated from the hell I’d been living since capturing Andrew Luster. It was as if the slate had been wiped clean—sort of. Despite my being able to travel in the United States, because of my felony conviction I still have to get permission to travel outside the country. I was recently contacted by people in London to go over and help Parliament create a plan to clean up the massive problem they have with violent gangs in and around the city. I was all set to make the trip when I was told England would not grant me a visa to enter the country because of my criminal history, even claiming that I had been convicted of the same crimes as Jack the Ripper! I was devastated because I was eager to get over there and help clean up their cities and streets.
With all of the good deeds I’ve done over the past thirty-three years, all of the fugitives I’ve brought to face their crimes, and the many hours of community service I’ve put in, I think there should be some type of absolution for my crime. I would rally for a pardon since I didn’t commit the crime I was charged with, but if that wasn’t in the cards for me, I’d like to have my rights restored so I can truly live as a free man. I want to vote in elections. I want to travel to foreign countries. I want to be able to wear body armor to protect myself if I have to. In some states, even if I’m working, I am not even allowed to wear a bulletproof vest. I may think I’m Superman, the man of steel, but out in the field, I have no right to any type of protection if I get shot. That doesn’t seem fair to me. I should have the right to wear a bulletproof vest.
I am an upstanding, productive, respectable member of society and a citizen of the United States of America. I served my time and have given back to my community and country countless times in ways that no other man can match. What else will it take before my country sees me as a valuable asset? Even though we live in a free country, if you’ve been convicted of a felony, you will never really be free here. It’s a harsh reality I have a tough time accepting. How do I win back the respect of my country so it will see me as worthy of these rights?
We all make mistakes in life. Lord knows I am a walking, living, breathing example of that, but I am here to tell you one thing I hope you never forget. As long as you’re willing to take a risk, you will always get another opportunity to do things right. When I was leaving Huntsville, one of the wardens came over to me and said there was no second chance in the joint, only first chances.
“What do you mean by that?” I asked
“Life is what it is, Chapman. If you screw up, you’ll find yourself behind bars like you are now. When we let you go, that’ll be your first chance to make whatever changes you need to live your life on the right side of the law. Mess that up, boy, and you’ll find yourself singing the prison blues again. There won’t be a second chance for a guy like you.”
Even if I don’t totally agree