Letters to the editor

Death penalty seeks justice, not revenge

To the editor:

I respectfully submit a rebuttal to the letter to the editor published in reference to the death penalty ("Guilty or not") in your Jan. 19 edition of The Santa Clara.

In my opinion, the statement "guilty or not, no one deserves to die" is an irresponsible affront to the victims and their families. That said, I understand Williams orchestrated several murders from his jail cell. Rehabilitation? I don't think so. The penalty should fit the crime. My compassion is for the victims. Everyone has choices and each should be held responsible for his actions. These murderers were not killed by the states; they were executed after a fair trial in a court of law and after 20 years of appeals which we paid for.

This is not revenge; this is justice. The process should not last more than two years and should not include more than a trial, an appeals process and an appeal to the governor. The millions of taxpayer dollars spent on attorneys could be put to better use supporting the widows and orphans of the victims, providing, for example, a college education for the children or grandchildren.

Often, the victims are forgotten. Murderers and rapists don't consider the "common good" and the dignity of the human person. These individuals deprived their victims of life and destroyed their families. This is unforgivable.

A dear friend of my wife was raped 20 years ago. Her attacker, who had a previous history of sexual assaults, spent less than seven years in jail for his crimes. The victim lives in fear while the perpetrator walks the streets. The ramifications of rape and murder last a lifetime. Sophisticated approach to the death penalty? Certainly ... implementation without hesitation.

The days of sitting around the campfire holding hands, drinking herbal tea and singing "Kumbaya" are over. This was acceptable in the 1960s, not in 2006. The liberal approach to issues, such as the death penalty, and those relating to the safety and security of society, could eventually contribute to the demise of society as we know it today. We will be held responsible for future generations.

Bryan Sidgreaves

Campus Safety