‘Courageous Action’ of Anaya

Gov. Toney Anaya of New Mexico is not a man of our time, not in this age of Reagan-Ramboism. Maybe, with luck, he is a man of our future. We could use such good fortune.

The Times editorial (Nov. 30) is so correct. Anaya did “something wonderful.” His belief that “capital punishment is inhumane, immoral, anti-God and and incompatible with an enlightened society” could not be better stated or come at a more propitious moment.

We have just endured the hysterical cry for state murders, a hysteria that ousted three Supreme Court justices. A venal cry that came from candidates who knew they could have no possible effect upon, or relationship to the decisions of the court. But--if it could help them get elected dog-catcher or senator--the death penalty would be their ticket in.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the Legislature had the wisdom and guts to pass a bill stating that only the chief executive, the governor, could release the pellet to kill. Never again some faceless minion of the bureaucracy. The governor must fulfill the letter of the law. Murder.

Would he veto the bill? Would it be overridden? After all, the death penalty would not be denied. It would be politically safe. Would such inhumanity by the state come to a halt if the governor had to take a life--himself? Maybe it would be a single step down the path of courage lit by Anaya.

TED LEPON

Los Angeles