Death Penalty
* In “Make Them Work and Pay” (Commentary, Dec. 6) Jeff Gillenkirk argues convincingly for an end to the death penalty in California. However, the death penalty is only part of the larger system of justice. This is the same system of justice that saw fit to parole a man, who, after serving only five years for attempted murder, was released. This same person went on to kill a cop on Nov. 29.
Gillenkirk’s call to end the death penalty is hollow unless it is coupled with tougher sentencing for convicted criminals. There has to be a way to fashion legislation that lets us retain our humanity by abolishing the death penalty, and, at the same time, punishes the criminal more than it does now.
PAUL SKOPHAMMER
Malibu
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