Karla Faye Tucker

The execution of Karla Faye Tucker in Texas was a sad event for America (Feb. 4). I do not believe in capital punishment, since it is unevenly applied. Minorities and the poor are the ones being put to death in America. I understand that perhaps they commit more crimes that may get them on death row, but not in the numbers that are there. Why are they there? Their legal representation is sadly inferior.

So many individuals in prison and on death row come from dysfunctional families where abuse and neglect continue the cycle of dysfunction, crime and murder. I was a protective service worker for L.A. County for 19 years. I often thought that so many of the children I was trying to protect would end up in prison and on death row. These people have such a little chance at growing up to be productive and responsible.

Our society needs to address these issues, and begin to look at the correlation between a dysfunctional beginning and crime. We need to wake up and support intervention for America’s children. We need to spend much more money in this direction if we want to make some sense out of why we killed Karla Faye Tucker.

GERALD ORCHOLSKI

Pasadena

* Regarding the execution of Tucker: I think that many people are confused as to what the real issue is. The issue is not her sex, nor her claim to being “born again,” but, rather, the color of her skin. If Tucker were a black woman, one must wonder if the religious right would have flocked to her cause. Where are Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson when “born again” black men are escorted into the execution chamber? What a bunch of shameless hypocrites.

DAVID B. CASPOLE

Glendora