Advocates of abolishing the death penalty usually cite life without parole as a harsher punishment than execution. Often, editorials like yours of Feb. 6 point out the high cost of the death penalty. One thing forgotten is that life without parole does not end the criminal's threat to harm society.

Lifers are a threat to murder again, albeit in prison, placing inmates and prison staff at risk. Moreover, no prison is escape-proof.

It would be tragic if Michael Addison's defense team achieved a life sentence only for him to murder again. Addison has proven he has no qualms about killing law enforcement. In John Brooks's case, he can afford to hire another inmate to kill a staff member.

Please do not consider life without parole as a way to stop killers from killing. Only the death penalty can do that.

Let's expand the death penalty for anyone who kills someone under 18. Children are the most helpless of victims.

Sure, it may be more expensive than the $30,000 a year to house a prisoner for 30-40 years. But prison gives these guys access to better health care than most senior citizens, a free gym membership, free cable TV, softball every day in the summer, basketball every day in the winter and a permanent vacation from the 40-hour work week.

Most taxpayers think a $1 million-plus for the death penalty is money well spent.

SHANE MILLER

Epsom