Letters: The point is deterrence

Re “Execution coverage decried,” March 2

Have we gone so far in having sympathy for murderers that we have forgotten the purpose of all criminal penalties? It is deterrence. No one should think they can take the life of another and keep theirs.

Televising the reality —as was done in China — that when those men walked behind that door they would be put to death will, at the very least, give pause to would-be killers and increase the life expectancy of the rest of us who have no inclination to murder anyone.

Robert S. Henry

San Gabriel

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