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A life rests on Bush
© St. Petersburg Times, published November 16, 2000 As the world waits in fascination to learn whether George W. Bush will be the next American president, it watches in horror to see whether he will execute yet another mentally retarded Texan. As the American Bar Association protested, this is "unacceptable in a civilized world," a truth underscored by an urgent appeal from the European Union. But once again the Texas pardon board has denied mercy and Johnny Paul Penry is scheduled to die today for killing in the act of rape. His IQ is 56. At age 44, he cannot read and he still believes in Santa Claus. Other inmates don't waste their time trying to converse with him. It is undisputed, except by a remorseless prosecutor, that as a child Penry was brutally, persistently abused by his mother. At 22, he committed rape and was unwisely paroled after only two years. To execute such a person cannot possibly deter another. The Supreme Court ruled on his first appeal 12 years ago that it is not cruel and unusual by national standards to execute someone who is retarded. But at the time only four states had forbidden that. Now, 13 states have, and Texas would have made 14 if Bush hadn't objected to the bill. The shame will be his if Penry dies today.
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From the Times Opinion page |
