THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 13, 1996 TAG: 9608130003
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 18 lines
Regarding Wanda Smelser, who received a sentence of 14 years for witnessing weeks of torture and then the brutal killing of her daughter (``Mother shrugged off killing of daughter, prosecutor says,'' MetroNews, Aug. 6):
Our lawmakers must change the laws to give child abusers and killers proper punishment. Too many children have been abused and murdered by their caretakers. Children who survive abuse and siblings who witness it often become child abusers and killers themselves. We need to protect our children and future generations.
MONA J. DENTON
Virginia Beach, Aug. 8, 1996 by CNB