Capital Punishment
Re “Flames Erupt in Electric Chair’s Death Jolt,” March 26:
The barbaric execution of Pedro Medina in Florida, with flames leaping from his head, reminds us that our nation remains in the Dark Ages, while every other civilized country has abolished capital punishment. The U.S. is in league with countries like China, Iraq, Iran and Nigeria in enforcing the death penalty.
But the inhumanity and cruelty of capital punishment is beginning to force people to rethink their support for the death penalty. Just last month, an independent survey conducted by the nonpartisan Field Poll found that approval of capital punishment has dropped from a high of 83% in 1985 to 74% now.
STEPHEN F. ROHDE
Los Angeles
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