Illinois needs death penalty

Abolition of the death penalty in Illinois is not the answer. Some criminals need to die for their heinous crimes, and that is why the death penalty exists. It is the just punishment, and completely removes the criminal from society. The deterrence rate is 100 percent, so that is proof that the death penalty is the ultimate justice.

If Illinois is to remove the death penalty, it will weaken our justice system, since no plea bargaining would be available to work out any confessions. Offenders can simply take life without parole and then appeal the sentence down as the years pass. These appeals with prison sentences also must be attended by the victims’ families, so they cause no less agony than death penalty appeals.

Our society has always used the harshest punishment for the harshest crimes, and Illinois needs to move forward. The 15 inmates on death row murdered at least 28 people. The moratorium must be lifted and executions most resume without any more fruitless appeals, which are used as little more than delaying tactics.

As a final note, if you are worried about innocent people being executed, then do not convict innocent people. In the 21st century, that really should no be that hard to do.

Mark Egebrecht

Huntley