Capital punishment and lethal injections

Re “Concerns About Pain Put Lethal Injection on Trial,” April 24

Human Rights Watch is absolutely correct that lethal injection is inhumane. However, its reasoning is wrong. Lethal injection is inhumane because it lets the murderer off too easily. There really is only one fair and just method of capital punishment, and that is for the murderer to be put to death in exactly the same manner in which he or she did in the victim. If murderers are to be shown mercy when they are executed, then the least they could do is show mercy to their victims.

ALICE KELL

Minersville, Pa.

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Many may feel that concern over the pain of lethal injection is misplaced. After all, aren’t those executed likely to be cold-blooded killers who caused their victims and families far greater suffering? Let’s think of it another way. The problem with lethal injection is not simply pain but that it may cause unnecessary pain, and a willingness to cause unnecessary pain is a mark of cruelty. Causing pain is not necessarily cruel. Physical therapists do it all the time to aid their patients -- “no pain, no gain” -- but only a callous or sadistic therapist would subject a patient to extreme pain, knowing that it offered him no real benefit. The 8th Amendment to the Constitution forbids cruel and unusual punishment.

SHANE ANDRE

Seal Beach