Ken Schram: Let him die in prison

Ken Schram: Let him die in prison

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Story Published: Oct 2, 2008 at 11:23 AM PDT

Story Updated: Nov 21, 2008 at 3:14 AM PDT

By Ken Schram

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SEATTLE -- Should convicted killers be allowed to die at home?

Gregory Rowley is serving a 46-year sentence for having murdered a Spokane newspaper deliveryman back in 1987.

Rowley now has terminal cancer and is asking to be released from the Walla Walla penitentiary so that he can spend the remainder of his days surrounded by family members.

The State Department of Corrections is considering his request.

I say the hell with sending him home.

I say the hell with giving comfort and compassion to a man who raped a husband and father and then beat him to death in a high school parking lot.

I don't care if that sounds heartless. What I care about is sustaining a fundamental sense of justice.

And I find the argument that allowing Rowley to die at home will reduce health care costs paid by the state to be completely phony.

Face it; taxpayers will be picking up his medical costs in or out of prison.

And while we're on the subject, I think the state should flush the whole medical placement policy that allows people like Rowley to try and use their health as a get-out-of-jail-free card.

Should convicted killers be allowed to die at home?

Hell no.

Have something to say to Ken? Login or signup below to post a comment. Just be sure to read the rules and keep things civil. Or, you can e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com

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