Hi, Kevin.

As a surviving family member of someone who was a victim of murder, I am FOR the death penalty. Not because I cheer on death or the vengeance that drives some to seek the death of others. Instead, what I despise is the fact that my tax dollars went for 22 years to house, clothe and feed a man who ruthlessly killed another. While I love our country, that doesn't mean I agree with what we've come to see as "justice." How is it justice that this man is now free, after "serving his time," when my uncle's life was cut short at the ripe old age of 24? Andy's gone while his killer gets a second chance at life. It's not to say that his life wasn't destroyed that day as well. But while he was waiting for his second chance, I paid (along with my fellow tax payers) for everything he needed to survive. How fair is that? My only hope is that this man makes something good come out of his own life.

In Osama's case, his path was clear. He followed it unwaveringly, and showed no signs of ever changing his direction. He's gone. That's an accomplishment, not a reason to celebrate. It's a step in the right direction, and now it's time to forge a new future.

Peace isn't always about a lack of fighting among peoples. Peace must exist inwardly before it can exist outwardly. I think this step in our nation's history will bring greater inward peace to those who lost loved ones as a result of 9/11.