Debate has begun in Connecticut's state capital about the repeal of its capital punishment law. There are approximately 9 inmates on the state's death row awaiting execution of their sentences. One has been convicted of arranging the murder of a child who could have testified against him at trial. It would appear that by the time an offender has exhausted all of his appeals it may take as long as 15 years for the sentence to be carried out. Connecticut is pretty much a tranquil state. However, we had an unusually violent case of a rape/murder of three women here about a year and one half ago in Cheshire, Ct. The perpetrators are scheduled for trial, and the prosecution has indicated that it will seek the death sentence.

Although I am not an advocate of capital punishment as a general precept, I think that there are extreme circumstances in which the aggravating circumstances as opposed to the mitigating circumstances justify the sentence. I do not think that repeal is necessary. Under the current law the offenders have the opportunity to avoid the death sentence by proving that the mitigating circumstances of the deaths out weigh the aggravating circumstances.