BUTT OUT !!!

Outsiders keep butting into the way Texas treats its criminals. Recently, the European Union called on Texas to stop an execution. And now, a Maryland author condemns the way inmates, particularly those on death row, are treated in Texas prisons.

The European Union, on the eve of the 400th Texas execution since the death penalty was reinstated in 1982, called on Governor Rick Perry to put an end to this practice. The European Union urged Gov. Perry "to exercise all powers vested in his office to halt all upcoming executions and to consider the introduction of a moratorium in the stae of Texas."

To the governor's credit, his office told the European Union that this was none of its business. "230 years ago, our forefathers fought a war to throw off the yolk of a European monarch and gain the freedom of self-determination. Texans long ago decided that the death penalty is a just and appropriate punishment for the most horrible crimes committed against our citizens. While we respect our friends in Europe, welcome their investment in our state and appreciate their interest in our laws, Texans are doing just fine governing Texas."

The execution went on as scheduled. This was not the first time the European Union has tried to stop executions in Texas. In 1998, along with other death penalty abolitionists, the Eropean Union called on Texas not to execute Karla Faye Tucker, a notrious cold-blooded pickax murderer. Tucker, who found religion on death row (don't they all?), was also executed as scheduled. Justice was served when Governor (now President) Bush rejected all pleas on her behalf, including one from the Pope in Rome.

Now, along comes Dave Zirin, an author of sports books who resides in Maryland. Zirin has become the pen-pal of a Texas death row inmate. He got pissed off when Texas correction officials barred one of Zirin's books which he tried to send to his pen-pal. The authorities were concerned that several passages in his book could incite inmates to rebel against prison rules. In an op ed piece in yesterday's Houston Chronicle, Zirin criticized the treatment of Texas prizon inmates. He also slammed Gov. Perry for executing 159 murderers since he took office in 2001.

Zirin's op ed piece blasted Texas officials for "the fact that the people on the (death) row have no civil rights, no access to radio or television, or even arts and crafts." Well, pardon me. Zirin must think people are on death row for singing off-key in a church choir. Zirin writes that the banning of his book "reveals how aware Lone Star jailers are of how inhumanely they treat their prisoners." Do the complaints of an imprisoned pen-pal qualify this Maryland sports writer as an expert on Texas jails?

I have this to say to the European Union, the Pope, Zirin, and all the other death penalty abolitionists from outside the state - BUTT OUT !!! You have no business sticking your nose into the internal affairs of our state. Don't worry about how we handle our affairs. The United States Supreme Court will keep us from mistreating our prison inmates and ensure that all those on death row have received every protection afforded by our laws. Look to solve the many problems in your own back yard.