Letter to the editor: Citizens should support bill for moratorium on death sentence

By: Letter to the editor | Opelika Auburn News
Published: January 27, 2010

Citizens should support bill for moratorium on death sentence
I appreciate your editorial reprint this week, “It is time moratorium put on death sentence.” It greatly disturbed me last week to read the U.S. Supreme Court 7 to 2 ruling (Holly Wood v. Allen No. 08-9156). The ruling upheld the death sentence of Woods, who reportedly has an IQ of less than 70.

We are becoming more and more a polarized nation. Even though I am a Christian, I am increasingly weary of factions in religion, politics, and social standing. The “us and them” mentality … if you believe this – you must belong to this group … if you believe that – you must belong to that group.

I am not a card-carrying anybody, but would like to think, given enough information about most subjects, am able to reach a decision whereby my conscience doesn’t keep me awake at night.

Back to the editorial … yes by all means let us as Alabama residents educate ourselves on the benefits of a three-year moratorium on the death sentence and put our support behind a bill which would make this happen. We have nothing to lose by giving ourselves breathing room to consider all sides.

Sometimes we do the right thing just because it’s the right thing to do.

Please continue to keep your readers informed regarding this most important life and death issue.

Jean Giglio
Opelika