I oppose the death penalty absolutely, in all cases, because in all cases it is an act of revenge and hatred. The killing of Timothy McVeigh, who has halted all his appeals, will be an assisted suicide. It will also make him a martyr in the eyes of those who share his beliefs. We should not be surprised if one or more of his supporters tries to avenge our killing McVeigh. We should ask ourselves: How much killing and how much revenge are we prepared to live through?

Bud Welch lost his 23-year-old daughter, Julie Marie Welch, in the Oklahoma City bombing.