Nathan Chinn

18 York Close
Birkdale
Southport
PR9 2BN
Mr G. E. Pataki
72 Harbour Place
New York City
NY 79693
Dear Mr Pataki,
I am trying to formulate an opinion on whether Capital Punishment is an effective
method of punishment for heinous and ruthless killers. I have read both your article,
Death Penalty is a Deterrent, and the Texas Prison Chaplain Carroll Picketts article,
Ive come to see the Death Penalty as totally wrong. I am writing to raise some
concerns and opinions I have that I felt werent covered in your argument.
Whilst arguing for the Death Penalty, Steven Stewart (The Prosecuting Attorney for
Clark County Indiana) stated that no system of justice can produce results which are
100% certain all the time. I raise this in response to your idea that New Yorks Death
Penalty is crafted carefully, so that only the most inhuman murderers are eligible for it.
But, Stewart is right. You cannot be certain that all the men convicted and sent to death
row are and have been guilty, no system is 100% certain. Of the 96 men Reverend
Pickett has spent his final days with, he believes that 35 of them were mere fall partners
- involved in the crime, but were not the individuals to have pulled the trigger. You also
believe the jury takes prior criminal history, mental capacity, character, background,
state of mind and evidence all into account; some time after his execution, Carlos de
Luna was found innocent by a professor of Colombia University with proof beyond
doubt, and that he was convicted because your jury confused his name with another
Carlos - and you have the audacity to believe your jury is fail-safe!
Capital Punishment gives killers a good cause to fear arrest and conviction. A rather
familiar quote, I imagine. Carroll Pickett has witness 95 executions (thats a lot).
Although the idea of execution and death might frighten some, religious extremists,
vigilantes and those with idea of fighting for belief would continue to break the law,
whether it be to get a point across, a revenge attack, or even whether that a high being
used their omnipotence to tell the extremist to kill - theyd still feel as if the kills of
innocent lives are justifiable. I also have my own opinion that the Death Penalty acts as
some sort of stage - those who are left feeling voiceless will resort to murder for
attention, the media coverage will make them heard; they get exactly what they want. In
essence, youre congratulating them, giving them the voice theyve always wanted

because they broke the law. Some may even be more willing to commit a certain crime
if it means they are killed straight away, for this may be seen as an easy way out, or if
theyre religious and believe they did a good thing, a B road to Nirvana. I believe even if
a sentence of imprisonment for life didnt make them at least think about what theyd
done and question the deed, then being in the knowledge that they didnt get the
closure and easy way out they were hoping for would at least keep me somewhat
satisfied.
The idea of closure being given by witnessing the death of a criminal who stole your
friend or family members life, in my opinion, is a myth. Watching someone die will not
make the problem disappear, nor does it end grief. Watching them die only continues
the cycle of violence which ultimately destroys the avenger as well as the defender.
Assuming the family member is a morally good person and is present at the execution
of the person he/she has an unbelievable amount of hatred for (the killer), they probably
would still end up asking themselves silly amount of questions, like if they were really
any better than the murderer as they ended up just like their beloved; dead and buried.
This cycle of violence does not drain away, but yet contaminates the otherwise
good will which any human being needs to progress in love and understanding. Only
42% of Americans see the Death Penalty as a deterrent. I say only because this is the
lowest percentage that statistic has ever been; maybe people are finally beginning to
realise how ineffective this method of dealing with criminals really is.