Dear Sir or Madam:

I do not know if my opinion means much, but I just wanted to let you know that I cannot sit by and pretend as if I do not see what is going on any longer. I would like to take this time to share my feelings about the Death Penalty. I personally feel the death penalty is wrong and I know if I feel that way that millions of other people feel the same way.

I personally feel that we, Americans should not be exterminating our citizens like rabid dogs. I feel that the death penalty is no longer a deterrent and we need to start searching for answers as to why so many people are getting the death penalty and try to fix that problem, but for some reason no one seems to be willing to look beneath the surface. Is it because it drives the ratings up when these types of cases are broadcasted on television or printed in various periodicals? Is it because this subject is a powerful pedestal on which to stand in order to get into public office or maintain your place in public office? Can someone please explain to me what is going on?

Am I the only one that sees that something is truly wrong deep inside our foundation? Everyone knows that if the foundation is unstable that a house cannot stand upon it for long without complications. So why should we feel the United States of America will be able to stand on a deteriorating foundation?

I do not know about everyone else, but when I was coming up children did not make bombs at home, then go to school, and kill their classmates, because someone teased them or broke up with them. Again, I reiterate there is something wrong! And we, the People of the United States of America need to examine what that problem is.

Since the death penalty has been reinstated, the number of homicides has increased annually and those homicides do not include the so-called legal ones also known as executions.

I do not think it takes rocket scientists to determine that if the homicide rate is going up then this out of control killing machine that we call the "death penalty" is not working.

I beg of you to take this time to ponder why this is happening. We have to find an alternative before half the population of the United States of America is on death row. The cells are filling up at an alarming rate and every time someone is exterminated a new resident is found immediately to take his place.

Thank you very much for taking time out of your busy schedule to hear what I had to say.

A. Sims