Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 25, 1994 TAG: 9403250209
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Gov. Wilder commuted Giarratano's death sentence in 1991, Bassett's in 1992 and Washington's days before Wilder left office in January. He felt there was ample evidence proving they hadn't committed the crimes they were sentenced to die for.
So Wilder decided not to allow them to be killed in Virginia's electric chair, but also decided not to allow them the trial they needed to present evidence of innocence not available at their earlier trials. And so it was left to legislators. The committee decided by a vote of 11-4 that neither they nor any other death-row inmate could present their claims of innocence.
This issue received quite a bit of media coverage in May 1992 when Roger Coleman was executed in Virginia. Special hearings were held. In January, it appeared the committee agreed that something had to be done about not allowing new evidence to be heard 21 days after conviction. But not only did the committee kill the bill for all death-row inmates, it also killed the compromise bill that specifically would have allowed new trials for Giarratano, Bassett and Washington.
Senators' reasoning: Appeals by death-row prisoners would drag on and on. As it is, they drag on and on - and that's so prisoners can introduce evidence or circumstances that weren't available at their trials.
Even death-penalty proponents feel the state should take all precautions so as not to execute an innocent person. The actions of the committee are a disgrace to justice and Virginia's citizens.
HENRY HELLER
Chair, Virginians for Alternatives to State Killing
FABER
Pity the smoker who can't quit
I'M APPALLED by the Food and Drug Administration's decision to try to ban/regulate cigarettes (Feb. 26 news story, ``FDA wants to regulate, ban smoking'' from the Los Angeles Times). Are we headed toward a Prohibition era of black-market cigarettes?
After all these years, why are smokers being discriminated against? Isn't it bad enough we're banned from smoking in so many different public places? Aren't we paying, in more ways than one, for our habit - astronomical prices, health risks, etc.?
Years ago when cigarettes were glamorized everywhere, many of us started smoking. We now have a nicotine addiction. What are we supposed to do? I've tried many different stop-smoking techniques, to no avail.
Is the FDA or the government ready to provide programs that will truly work for smokers? Are they prepared for the drastic measures smokers will take to get their nicotine fix? What about the billions of dollars tobacco companies will lose, thus causing major unemployment for their workers? Has the FDA and government looked at the total picture? I think not.
WEDNESDAY A. SCOTT
VINTON
GOP witch hunt is bad for country
THE CLAMOR by the media and Republican Party over Whitewater is very disillusioning. It's politically motivated, a poor use of congressional resources, and it detracts from important business that Congress needs to undertake to correct major problems our country is now facing. This important business includes health-care reform, crime reduction and welfare reform.
Although it's possible there were some indiscretions by the Clintons in connection with Whitewater, I don't believe they're of the magnitude that justifies the witch hunt the Republican Party is attempting to mount.
Clinton is the president of the country and needs support of the Republican Party as well as the Democratic Party. It's very destructive to the country to try to bring down the presidency.
Congress should allow the special prosecutor to complete his probe unimpeded, and redirect its own energy toward more important issues.
GEORGE C. GOTWALT
ROANOKE
Still paying those illegal taxes
MY FIRST letter to the editor had to be a response to retired police officer Eugene H. Hart's March 13 letter, ``Giving other retirees the shaft.''
I've paid Virginia state taxes on my 20-year pension since June 1970 when I retired from the Navy. Out of that 20 years, I may have spent four years in Virginia. The rest of that pension was earned all over the world - 15 years on sea duty and five years on shore duty.
I assume Hart went home to his family after laying his life on the line daily. My children had a hard time remembering who I was because I was overseas so much of the time.
By the time retirees finish going through the court system to try to get illegal taxes taken from 1985 to 1988, I'll probably be gone or too old to spend it.
I'm sorry Hart's pension isn't what he used to take home. Mine never was, from the day I retired. And, of course, I'm still paying Virginia state taxes on my Navy pension, which has been going on for 24 years now. I hope I've made my point.
JOHN McNALLY
SALEM
by CNB