Fix death penalty process, don’t end it

I certainly agree with the Feb. 2 viewpoint column regarding the need for Floridians to reconsider the death penalty. However I disagree with the need to have a “public conversation” on the topic.

No pun intended butwe have talked this topic to death. What we really need is to have the Florida Supreme Court lead both the state and the nation to a radical, simple and consistent process improvement.

Firstly, let’s all agree that the current approach has neverworked. It’s cruel, inhumane and extraordinarily expensive for the taxpayer. Let’s also agree that if it’s one of our own family members, a close personal friend or a policeman who was killed we would want our revenge, not rehabilitation. I can’t be the only one tired of hearing that racial issues are involved or the killer was spanked as a baby or they found religion while incarcerated. If convicted of first degree murder regardless of the color of your skin or difficult childhood and subsequently sentenced to death, the sentence must be carried out expeditiously as possible.

Let’s provide one year for the defense to obtain new evidence and provide them with whatever support they require. Then, in order to see if there is any merit for further delay, this one-time appeal would then be reviewed by a judicial committee whose members would be selected by the Supreme Court. If insufficient merit exists, then let’s carry out the sentence immediately.

If this is too simple a solution, well that’s the whole point.

Irwin Weinberg, Boca Raton