Letter to the Editor NYC
From The New York Times
To the Editor:
Re "New Debate Over Restoring Death Penalty" (news article, Dec. 16):
The New York State Assembly committee hearing on Dec. 15 provided powerful witness to the about-face in attitudes in the state. I was privileged to share my testimony with other family members of victims and with former death-row inmates, now exonerated through new information.
Like them, I oppose the reintroduction of this fallible practice. All victim families experience myriad feelings of loss, helplessness and unending grief in our struggle to resume a "normal" life. But killing another person contradicts our teaching to children that killing is wrong.
My son, John William Perry, as he was about to resign from the New York Police Department, responded with thousands of rescue workers on 9/11; he did not survive. I believe that he rejected the death penalty, and I know that killing another cannot restore my beloved son.
I urge that all members of the Legislature conclude that New York is better off without the death penalty. Patricia J. Perry
Seaford, N.Y., Dec. 17, 2004
Posted by katherine at 11:21 AM
