To the Editor:
In "Lethal Cruelty" (editorial, April 26), you maintain that "the death penalty is in all cases unconstitutional" and that the law of the land should recognize that the Eighth Amendment bars capital punishment.
I do not read any mention of the death penalty in this amendment. The actual text prohibits "cruel and unusual punishments." In some cases, death is a just punishment.
Throughout all of human history, the death penalty has been considered a grave but by no means excessive form of punishment, as long as it is reserved for the most extreme forms of crime.
I agree that lethal injections, if it can be proved that they result in excruciating pain before death, would qualify as torture and should therefore be barred by the Eighth Amendment.
Michel van der Hoek
Anoka, Minn., April 26, 2006
If we take the posture: "This person has committed terrible acts, thus we are justified in doing the same to him" we diminish ourselves. Rarely, death is an appropriate punishment. "Cruel and unusual" punishment ought never be.
Very good letter from Mr. van der Hoek.
Would denying him the opportunity to go immediately to heaven and be catered to by (I can never remember how many) virgins be "cruel and unusual" punishment according to his standards?