Kudos to the Tribune for its comprehensive Dec. 29 editorial, “Fixing the death penalty,” and for keeping this issue alive for many years. We have all come a long way toward the “fixing.”
Though perfection should be our goal, we need to recognize that perfection in human processes is not possible. Yet no one seems to be trying to determine how much less than a reasonable doubt we should use as the standard for life or death. Would only a “teensy-weensy” bit of doubt warrant such killing? The attempt would soon make it abundantly clear that Gov. George Ryan has reached the right answer. In May, he said that unless “…this commission can show me the system is perfect, I won’t execute anybody and I don’t know if that will happen during my term . . . “
Personally, I can support the death penalty, but only if the system is perfect.
The standard for error should be zero tolerance. It is attainable only by killing the death penalty.
Our country holds as its highest values life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. With a zero tolerance for error, we forego the taking of life as punishment. We should replace the killing with life in prison without parole, leaving open the option that wrongful conviction may be righted.
