On March 18, Gov. Bill Richardson, of New Mexico, signed into law a bill that abolishes the death penalty in that state. Importantly, the repeal package, which includes other bills currently working their way through the New Mexico Legislature, places emphasis where it belongs: on murder victims' families.
When my 24-year-old son, Scott, was murdered in 1987, I was devastated. Losing a loved one to murder tears apart the lives of victims' family members. There are no easy answers. But I know that government policy must be redirected to programs that help those victims' family members heal.
New Mexico's bill to repeal the death penalty and replace it with life without the possibility of parole is a major step in that direction. The additional measures being considered as adjuncts to this newly enacted legislation focus on enabling New Mexico to use the savings gained from ending the death penalty to provide support to children of murder victims, provide services and programs to murder victims' families, and create a murder victims' family services fund. Another measure requires employers to provide time off for family members to attend judicial proceedings.
Capital punishment is not a deterrent to murder. It is too costly and has insufficient protections against wrongful executions.
It is time for Pennsylvania to follow New Mexico's lead in providing restitution for victims' family members, as well as alternatives to the death penalty.
Walter H. Everett,
Lewisburg
Opinion
Not a deterrent
- Opinion
-
-
Good-paying jobs
I am writing in response to comments made by several lawmakers and certain media regarding people receiving unemployment compensation not searching for employment but only wanting extensions.
-
Economy is tough but still pay rises
It was my first time attending a Lewisburg School Board meeting last night. I went to hear public comment on the Boards recent decision to extend the Superintendents contract, which included a 20-plus percent pay raise.
-
Sunbury has a lot to offer
I would like to respond to the letter writer that inferred that Sunbury was a pretty package with nothing inside.
-
Mutual aid is necessary
Mutual aid agreements in local law enforcement strike at the heart of basic small-town decency. When a neighbor is in need, those equipped to help ought to drop everything and spring to aid.
-
Lifting me higher
I am not a winner of a Pulitzer Prize, nor am I an author of best selling novels, I'm just a human being attempting to live life here on earth with purpose and I can find no greater way to do that than through my faith and my belief in God.
-
Understaffing
I read with interest your article regarding police mutual aid in Northumberland County.
-
Carney, Marino ought to get focused on issues
U.S. Rep. Chris Carney and Tom Marino ought to focus on the issues in the upcoming campaign for Congress.
-
Blatantly unfair
The Pennsylvania Republican Party is supporting an effort to strike third-party candidates from the general election ballot in November.
-
Fiscal responsibility
This editorial letter is only the second such letter I have been moved to pen in my lifetime.
-
Schools need a little help from home
Milton High School failed to meet its adequate yearly progress under Pennsylvania's version of the federal No Child Left Behind because one student did not show up for the standardized test.
- More Opinion Headlines
-
Good-paying jobs
