LETTERS: COLD-HEARTED MURDERER EXECUTED

To the editor:

I am writing to let you know how sick and tired I am of hearing about Karla Faye Tucker. This was a woman who was convicted and admitted to the murder of a man and a woman. This was also a person who was a drug user and prostitute in her teen year. This was obviously a very sick lade on death row who got what she deserved. The fact that she said she found God is great, and I hope everyone does in their lifetime, but that doesn't bring back the two people she murdered in cold blood, nor does it heal the wounds she caused in the hearts of the family members who lost loved ones.

To see people holding vigils and protests against this execution was sickening to me. We need to have stricter laws and punishments for the people who commit these crimes. I would also like to say that the appeals process is in dire need of reconstruction. I say this because Tucker had 76 appeals since 1993, 16 in the last year. She admitted to the crimes and didn't try to cover them up, so the officials knew they weren't going to execute an innocent person. This was truly a cold-hearted murderer.

The other issue is gender, which should have no bearing on the execution of a criminal. Whether male or female, the crime was done, and two people are gone. Now many are upset that a female was executed for her actions. If it were a male, it would be a no-brainer. They would execute him, and that would be the end of it. We as a society need to stop finding excuses to save these beasts and put them where they belong somewhere other than on this earth.

I hope people take the time to think about this issue and look at the facts. This was a murderer who admitted to the crimes she was charge with. She tore a hole in the hearts of the family members related to the victims. She begged for forgiveness and a stay of execution. Should we as a civilized society try to protect criminals, or should we try to take control of our society and make it a better, more safe place to live? You make the call.

MARK STEVENER

Cape Girardeau