May I publicly thank the state of Maine for not having capital punishment. I also thank Bishop (Joseph) Gerry for his appeal to Nebraska Gov. Ben Nelson to promote nonviolence and respect for life and to spare convicted killer John Joubert.

Before his execution, Joubert sought forgiveness from God and the families of his victims. May we as a nation seek forgiveness for his execution and all the times we have been violent and not respected God, His laws and His children. Mrs. Johnnie Cancelarich Presque Isle

In regard to the execution of the man from Nebraska who had been on death row for 12 years, I think that was 11 years and 364 days too long. How can anyone possibly say that killing this man would only breed more violence?

He should have died the horrible death that these children did when, by his own admission, the children looked into his eyes and begged him not to do these things, but he said, “I did it anyway.”

It’s people in our society who believe that punishment of the worst kind should not be used for these acts of violence who make our society such a bad and unsafe place to live. Gail E. Ray Milbridge