Letter: Children must not be given death sentences
Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2004 | 8:52 a.m.
I was surprised to learn in Tom Teepen's Feb. 1 commentary that the United States condones the execution of youths under age 18, and that the Supreme Court will soon revisit this issue with the strong possibility of once again approving this practice. I am appalled that we as a nation would sanction the execution of children.
It is true that 16- and 17-year-olds have committed heinous crimes and should certainly be punished for their actions. However, these 16- and 17-year-olds are not emotionally or mentally mature enough to fully understand the implications and consequences of their actions. Juveniles do not think like adults. Our legal system recognized that fact and established a juvenile court system. However, when a teen is tried as an adult, execution as a punishment becomes a very real possibility.
Teepen pointed out that last year the United States sentenced two juveniles to death and that no other nation officially endorses the execution of children. As a nation, we pride ourselves as advocates of both human rights and child welfare. Isn't it time we stopped the practice of legally killing children.
DONNA J. VAN DYKE
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Shooting in parking lot of CVS leaves man dead
- Man, 26, dies in collision with truck traveling at 100 mph
- Holiday shoppers skip turkey for Strip stores
- Casino venue in Singapore will have Las Vegas flavor
- Nevada’s just not for us, many top high schoolers say
- Fontainebleau retail component seeks bankruptcy
- CityCenter completion might spur home foreclosures
- Holiday Auction 2009 items
- MGM Mirage: CityCenter not affected by debt woes
- Real estate experts cautiously optimistic about market
Blogs
The Kats Report
Could a savior of shuttered Las Vegas Art Museum be ... Peter Max? (4 Comments)
For Paul Stanley and KISS, rock and roll is not over (3 Comments)
Twenty years ago today, Human Nature took root on the farm (1 Comment)
Robin Leach's Las Vegas Celebrity Watch
Photo Gallery: Donny Osmond’s triumphant return to the Flamingo
The Kats Report
'DWTS' champ Donny Osmond still deft afoot in return to Flamingo (8 Comments)
Politics: The Early Line
Meeting of GOP governors draws challengers, not Gibbons (5 Comments)
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Oscar loves forcing developers to sign labor peace agreements, Culinary loves the city's downtown plans and all is forgiven (9 Comments)
Calendar »
- 28 Sat
- 29 Sun
- 30 Mon
- 1 Tue
- 2 Wed
-
KISS at the Pearl
The Pearl at the Palms
-
Joe Perry Project at the House of Blues
House of Blues | 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Stevie Wonder at MGM Grand
MGM Grand Garden Arena | 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
-
Vicente Fernandez at the Mandalay Bay Events Center
Mandalay Bay Events Center | 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati











