While I, too, have little sympathy for Zacarias Moussaoui, I disagree with Larry Goldman's recommendation for the death penalty (Readers' Forum, April 15) for two reasons. First, he had no qualms about being killed in the first place. But more important, Moussaoui was captured before he committed his terrorist act. If he is executed, it may set an ugly precedent in which the thought of a crime results in such a severe punishment. Executing Moussaoui would be a regression to the Salem witch trials, where fear dictated our reaction.
Boyd Petrie
Salt Lake City