The Supreme Court recently consented to review Roper v. Simmons,a case where it will once again be confronted with the deathpenalty. 

Having ruled in previous terms that the execution of thementally retarded constitutes cruel and unusual punishment, thejustices now turn again to the question of executing juvenileoffenders older than 16, a practice which a majority of the courtupheld in 1989. 

Christopher Simmons, who was 17 years old at the time of hisarrest, was sentenced to death in 1993 for the robbery and murderof a 46-year-old woman.

While many challenges have been put forth to Simmons’death penalty conviction including an abusive childhood, possiblemental condition and drug dependency, the question before the courtwill be if his age precludes him.

Ed Board cannot begin to take up these heavy questions nowbefore the court but we do wish to caution on one point.

If truth can be found on this issue, it can only be throughconfrontation of it, not through avoidance.

It is easy for one to be for the death penalty when onedoesn’t know the details of execution just as it is easy forone to be against the death penalty when one doesn’t knowthat heinousness of the crime in question.

If capital punishment is a tool that we choose to wield, itshould never be pushed into a corner out of the public eye where itcan exist forgotten by all but those who it touchesdirectly. 

Rather, we should be forced to examine ourselves and our societyin its somber light.

We must either be willing to temper out conscience on thereality of the death penalty or abolish the practice if we cannotstomach it. 

The middle road of enforcing this punishment while not lookingit in the eye leads to social decay.

Many disturbing questions have been raised about the use of thedeath penalty in the United States.

It can be said that there has been a decline in confidence whenit comes to our criminal justice system.

People are beginning to realize that it is a system that isunfair and plagued with problems and therefore, should not bepermitted to continue.

It should never be easy for the state to put someone to death,and it should never be easy for any of us to forget that we do.