CamiSu: I HAVE lost a loved one in a senseless murder, and admittedly, it might flavor my attitude. My wonderful mother-in-law died by strangulation while showing an apartment in Dallas the day after Bobby Kennedy was assignated. It is still an unsolved crime. She was a sweet, caring lady who wouldn't harm a fly and I have often imagined how horrible her last moments must have been. The man who killed her deprived her of seeing her grandchildren grow up to be adults. And she never had the joy of seeing her great grandchildren.

I would find no pleasure in witnessing the execution of the man who did this terrible thing to her, but if they ever caught him, I would watch him die, and it would not bother me one bit.

The loss of my mother-in-law is not the only reason that I favor capital punishment, however. I don't think it necessarily serves as a deterrent to people committing murder, but it damn well assures that they never take another person's life again. Too many times there are cases where convicted murderers are sentenced to "Life in Prison," and a do-gooder parole board sets them free after a few years, and the go forth and murder again. Execution assures that they never will kill again.

I will now await the flood of postings from people who will say, "But not everyone on death row is guilty." That's probably true, and if any innocent person has been put to death, I regret it. But those who are PROVEN guilty deserve far worse than what they probably imposed on their victims. Today they lay on a gurney, are given drugs and die peacefully. Their victims are rarely afforded such a peaceful death.

I'm not addressing this posting specifically to you CamiSue, it was sweet of you to post as you did, and I appreciate it.

DougR