Debate Over Death Penalty
In her Platform, “The Death Penalty Is Both Vindictive and Wrong” (March 31) Sister Mary Anne Vincent says abolishing capital punishment “will save taxpayers millions of dollars.”
What she does not say is that the high cost of carrying out the death penalty is a direct result of the delaying tactics practiced by people like her who oppose it.
Clearly, the primary goal of the criminal justice system is not to save taxpayer dollars, but to punish individuals who break the law. Under California law, the death penalty is reserved only for those criminals found guilty of committing particularly brutal and senseless acts of violence against innocent people.
For this reason, her accusation that any elected official who supports capital punishment is simply pandering to “the basest instincts of their vocal, vindictive constituents” seems particularly unfair.
A recent California poll showed that 80% of those surveyed believe capital punishment should be maintained. I do not believe that these people are vindictive. They are simply tired of convicted murderers being allowed to escape responsibility for the heinous crimes they commit.
DON NOVEY, President, California Correctional Peace Officers Assn., Sacramento
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