Execution case important to international relations

The Austin-Mexican Statesman ^ | June 11, 2011 | AAS Editorial Board

[cweese]

The Golden Rule of life also applies to the tricky business of international relations. What we do to non-Americans in our country we can reasonably expect to be done unto Americans in other countries.

It is for that reason that Gov. Rick Perry and the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles — both in the uncommon position of making a decision with international impact — should commute or postpone the death sentence of Humberto Leal, a Mexican raised in Texas, scheduled to die July 7 for the 1994 murder of Adria Sauceda, 16, in Bexar County.

The key issue in this case at this point is not whether Leal committed the crime. Also not central now are the circumstances involving Leal, including sexual abuse by a priest, a challenging family history and other factors that, though significant, fail to add up to justification for murder. They could, however, count as mitigating factors that argue for a life sentence.

It's what happened after Sauceda was killed that is at issue. More specifically, it's what didn't happen.

[cweese]

Typical editorial point of view from the children at the Austin Statesman. Humberto Leal is a monster who most assuredly deserves to be executed, yet this "newspaper" whines otherwise.

[DesertRhino]

“What we do to non-Americans in our country we can reasonably expect to be done unto Americans in other countries.”

If an American goes to Mexico and does the same thing to a Mexican girl, go ahead and string him up. I’ll be fine with it.

[cweese]

The full (graphic) description of what this animal did to his victim can be found here.

[Sherman Logan]

There is no question he deserves execution.

There is also no question we should implement the obligations of the treaties we sign.

I find it interesting how we’re supposed to treat “a Mexican raised in Texas” no differently from an American citizen, right up to the point where his being a Mexican citizen provides him sort of special advantage.

[jocon307]

Oh, the poor Mexican man! Perhaps he didn’t have the greatest lawyer!

What about the poor teenager murdered by this guy?

Nobody seems to think he’s innocent.

PULL THE PLUG!

He is gonna die now, because Perry, like Clinton, will ensure that “soft on murderers” aint’ gonna haunt him.

[Venturer]

I am cool with that. If an American goes into Mexico and rapes and kills a 16 year old Mexican girl ,hang the SOB.

So what is the problem and where can I get a ticket to see the execution?

[StonyBurk]

I agree— and can only add—what is said of how America treats non-citizens -is how we can expect them to treat us— is equally true of those countries these non-citizens come from. America ,by this rule- ought treat non-citizens the same way their Country treat Americans.IMO if an American commits a crime in nearly any foreign nation they are subjected to the laws of that nation.Ad in many places like Mexico they can be in prisons that reflect the historic Yuma Prison -more than any modern resort for a very long time before they can hope for release.And murder....?(You can provide your own speculation.)

[pnh102]

So let me see if I understand this correctly. The idiots at this paper want foreigners to come to the US but not be subject to our laws?

[Waco]

Bullsh-t if he murdered someone string him up, then talk about international relations.

[exDemMom]

Idiot newspaper.

Of course Americans committing crimes in other countries are subject to their laws. No country, ever, has tolerated people coming and acting like animals just because they’re foreign. (Exception: diplomatic immunity, which is a whole nother can of worms.)

I really could care less about where this murderer was born. Perhaps if his country of birth would reinstate the death penalty, they could start controlling that little problem of hundreds of innocent citizens being murdered by the drug cartels every year. Juarez, from all I hear, is a war zone.

[Feckless]

The key issue in this case at this point is not whether Leal committed the crime...

I could agree to let this scumbag spend the rest of his life in prison on one condition:

The entire editorial board of the Austin (Hanoi in the Hill Country) unAmerican Stasi hop up on a gurney and take the needle for him.

Hey, it's a start....

[ops33]

“The key issue in this case at this point is not whether Leal committed the crime.”

I do not understand this statement. If Leal did not commit the crime then none of this would be an issue. The paper makes this comment as if it is a fact. But their statement is only an opinion. The one and only fact is that a man murdered a person and now must pay the penalty for his crime. A Texas court with a jury of his peers determined his guilt and set his punishment. I really don’t this that is all that hard of a concept to grasp.

[SwatTeam]

Quoting Ron White “If you kill somebody in Texas, we’ll kill you back.”

Don’t know why that statement is so misunderstood.

[Menehune56]

Humberto Leal, a Mexican raised in Texas...

I didn't see it mentioned in the article. Was he another undocumented immigrant just committing the murders Americans won't do?

[MizSterious]

So, spare the thug’s life, and release him into the custody of this writer.

[cweese]

"The idiots at this paper want foreigners to come to the US..."

Mexicans, specifically.

[cweese]

Agreed. He should have been strung-up already.

[cweese]

"The entire editorial board of the Austin (Hanoi in the Hill Country) unAmerican Stasi hop up on a gurney and take the needle for him. "

That'd be a sight I'd pay to see.

[cweese]

"I really don’t this that is all that hard of a concept to grasp."

Oh, they grasp it alright. They just think that people who brutally murder innocent teenagers should be coddled with choruses of kumbaya and rehabilitated.

[cweese]

"Was he another undocumented immigrant just committing the murders Americans won't do? "

Tsk, tsk...he is a "displaced traveler".