Hope My Murderer Ends up in Heaven

I see a person behind bars,
and my heart swells up with sympathy.
Just Imagine all their countless scars,
numbers beyond infinity.

I hope my murderer ends up in heaven,
though I know he holds much blame.
I hope that he's given another chance,
because I think: given the right circumstance,
would I have turned out the same?

None of this is simple,
its not black and white.
Yes it's obvious that he’s a criminal,
but we dont know what demons he was forced to fight.

Nobody has control over the cards they’re dealt,
or the challenges faced when we're young.
Perhaps his father raised them on beer and a belt,
with words that always stung.

Are people born with hate in their heart?
Who of us can say?
Some people's lives are already torn apart,
before they get any years to their age.
If I had been born where they were raised,
would I have ended up just as crazed and deranged?

So yes, I hope my murderer ends up in heaven,
hope we can stand side by side.
He can talk and I will listen,
to the tragedies that played out in his life.
And sure, maybe he's hostile,
but has anyone else ever asked what made him turn out to be so awful?