Fionn, Edmund: I have no doubt that innocent people have been executed for murders they did not commit. I regret that. I do not believe, however, that it is a basis for abolishing capital punishment. Otherwise, people who are unquestionably guilty, Timothy McVey for example remain alive to kill again. I know, most of you will say, "We do not advocate setting the guilty ones free, we want them sentenced to life in prison." The trouble is, some well meaning parole board sometime in the future may decided that he or she has rehabilitated him/herself, and they are set free. There have been many instances of these people killing again after they are paroled.

I don't necessarily believe that capital punishment deters people from murdering other people. A guilty person who has killed, who is executed by the state, however, will never kill again.

I believe our criminal justice system (here in the U. S.) is the best in the world, and though it is not perfect, I know of none better. I'm not putting down other systems, I know little about them, and it would be foolish of me to do so.

While I represent the minority view, politically and philosophically, here on the Mudcat, every poll I know of in the United States shows, however, that I am with the majority in this country on the subject of capital punishment. I believe, based on recent news stories that the people of Great Britain, if allowed to, would also reinstate the death penalty for a capital crime. I do not know about Canada.

I respect your views, even though I don't agree with them. And I have made my position as clear as I think I can.

Those who wish to write lettrs, sign petitions, and do whatever Fionn requests people to do should do so. I certainly respect their right to do it, and wish them luck.

If one posts a thread here on the Mudcat, he or she should expect that someone might post a message that is in disagreement with the position of the poster. That's just the way BS threads on the Mudcat work.

DougR