Leslie Van Houten

Recently parole was denied for one of the Manson family. Usually this would not be cause for controversy, however, Leslie Van Houten was not involved in the Tate murders but the La Bianca killings the night after. It is believed that she did not actually fatally wound anyone that night but only stabbed Mrs. La Bianca post mortem. She has served 41 years as a model prisoner.
I'm sorry, but when the best argument the opposition seems to weild is "other people who have killed have gotten out," I am not moved. She would not even be here were her sentence not commuted by the Supreme Court of California. She was sentenced to death, which became a life sentence, so we as society, technically owe this woman nothing. I don't care if her life behind bars is cleaner than the Pope's. Her behavior in court is one of the reasons she is here. During the trial, when the evidence was discussed about the terrible way the La Bianca's were killed, the woman giggled. I don't care how old you are. Do you ever hear about these deaths and get tickled? Yeah, me neither.
So really, even though I bear this woman no ill will, I respect the system that put her there as well as the one that keeps her there. She can appeal and say that there is bias against her case. But think back to the enormity of the Manson killings and trial. There is a very good reason to give it discrimination. It is different from other cases for a very good reason. And let's keep it that way.