The Editor, Sir:

I have been listening to the arguments for and against the death penalty and, for the most part, find them amusing. Why? I have heard it is immoral to hang a murderer. But I ask myself, what is the source of this moral argument? I bet that the purveyors of the moral argument do not support my moral argument on abortion, sex, gambling, gay marriage and the like. So, for me, this sudden appeal to morality is one of convenience.

Can you imagine that we give our police and soldiers guns to go after these same suspected murderers? Our Constitution tells these upholders of the law that when they see these men, if they feel that their lives are threatened, they should kill them. Now, can you imagine what may or may not constitute a threat to a man with a legal gun? We are crying out for more legal guns in the hands of our citizens. For what purpose? To prevent the state from doing it for us.

The death penalty cannot be our only recourse to the high level of crime and violence in the society. It may or may not be a part of the solution but, where is the objective analysis? Sometimes we lift an argument from out of its environment to make a point and end up with faulty conclusions. I believe we need to look at our history and our demography quite carefully to fully understand if we should or should not have the death penalty.

Remember our forefathers

I also share wholeheartedly Howard Hamilton's view that we need to get back to volunteerism. Those of us born before Independence can very well recall that we thrived on the shoulders of volunteers. It is now our turn to return the favour. It is time for more of my generation (those born in the 1950s) to help. We have a societal problem and we need to attack the root, even while we go after the branches.

Thank God for the Church. I personally know young men who have turned from a life of guns and drugs to serving Christ. Let us be honest with ourselves, rid ourselves of the politicking, and unite to slay the dragon or else we all will be consumed.

I am, etc.,

ROBERT A. STEWART

P.O. Box 405

Kingston 6