THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 3, 1996 TAG: 9602030014
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 30 lines
We recently had a week of executions for various capital crimes. Murder, rape with murder, etc. These executions were a punishment for crimes committed by an individual against his fellow human beings. Why should one not expect to pay the supreme penalty when he takes the life of another?
I constantly see where ``bleeding hearts'' demonstrate against execution as being ``barbaric.'' What could be more barbaric then killing another person for no reason other then to avoid recognition or for personal pleasure?
People say capital punishment is not a deterrent to murder. No, it is not a deterrent and should not be looked upon as such. It is a punishment, nothing more or less. A person committing a murder should expect to pay the supreme penalty.
Some of the people demonstrating might feel differently about executiion if a loved one of theirs was murdered by one of these ``poor, uneducated, underprivileged and abused'' individuals.
RAYMOND L. FIELDS
Norfolk, Jan. 27, 1996 by CNB