Last week, Texas was scheduled to execute a severely mentally ill man. In a last-minute decision, he was granted a stay of execution. There is no question that this man committed the crime and he deserves punishment. The real question is: Should we be executing a person who is mentally ill?
As The Post noted in its recent series on mental illness, lack of treatment and medication can substantially affect the behaviors of those with the most severe forms of mental illness, sometimes leading to violent crimes. However, should punishment be as severe as death? A recent nationwide poll conducted by the University of North Carolina found that Americans oppose the death penalty for persons with mental illness by 2 to 1.
This is a profound issue that is an important factor in Colorado’s continued conversation about the death penalty.
Kathleen McGuire, Centennial
This letter was published in the Dec. 8 edition.
Submit a letter to the editor via this form or check out our guidelines for how to submit by e-mail or mail.
