Putting killers to death will not make us a better society

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

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To the Editor:

I was struck by an article in the Cabinet (Nov. 5) in which two state representatives plan to unveil an amendment to the New Hampshire death penalty to include home invasion by those who have the intent to kill.

As a participant in the candlelight vigil in Mont Vernon for Kimberly Cates and her seriously injured little girl Jaimie, I stood humbled in the town fire station with hundreds of others. We bowed our heads in immense sadness and disbelief, and honored Kimberly’s beautiful life so brutally taken.

Selectman Paul Apple spoke of the anger and fear that understandably had gripped our peaceful town. Then Mr. Apple took the bold step of saying that, in order to truly heal and move forward to some semblance of peace again, Mont Vernon eventually needs to consider the choice of forgiveness.

So many families have been hurt and irreparably changed. I ask myself if the death penalty, an act of revenge, will make us feel vindicated. And I ask myself, why do we kill people in order to show we should not kill each other.

It is my understanding that we are the only developed country in the world that still imposes the death penalty. Statistics show that it does not deter crime. And though this is certainly not the main issue here, studies have shown that it costs more, due to appeals and court costs, to institute the death penalty rather than incarcerate (and dare I say, rehabilitate) an individual for life.

So what is the way forward here after such tragedy... how do we stop the violence in our communities... is the death penalty the way we really want to go?

NANCY MORRISON

Mont Vernon