George,

tarnished by the scandals in his administration, ryan is still looking for something to be remembered by other than the scandals. this was a selfish act on his part with no regard for the victim's families. now, how do they feel? there is no justice to provide closure for the survivors. not only that but now they have to live with the knowledge that a portion of their income will go for support of the one who changed their lives for the worse forever.

there was a case in texas in the past that a murderer was sentenced to death. the US supreme court commuted his sentence to life without parole. next came overcrowding and he was released. he killed four more until they caught him again and executed him. ryan has rubbed salt in a wound that in some cases will never heal. also that person who is called paul simon said that all the victim's families want is revenge. how does he know? has he ever been in the same situation? they just want justice!

i remember when i was in school. when we did something that deserved a paddling we got it. it was certain and swift. because of these two things it became a deterrent for me. i dreaded a paddling. capital punishment can never become a deterrent until these two requirements are met. capital punishment has never been certain or swift. now the attorneys tell him he has a chance. a criminal will never hesitate from committing murder until he knows he will surely pay with his life and soon. corporal punishment was taken away and look at the kids now. and now you are taking capital punishment away.

big mistake.

Michael Smith (electronic mail, January 12, 2003)