I don’t really understand how “The Lottery” applies to this issue. “The Lottery” was basically about blindly following tradition. This issue is about dealing with a person who has committed a terrible crime. Personally, I am against the death penalty and think it was right to commute their sentences to life imprisonment. When she dies she’ll get out. Considering the crimes committed, the fact that she is physically comfortable and even socially able to interact with people, become involved with helping people and therefore paying back society a bit, and even able to educate herself seems quite humane to me.

Rita, what you feel is compassion and a great thing. However sometimes compassion means putting them out of their misery, Ms. Atkins needed the death penalty!

“As I said previously, mercy is a mark of the giver, not of the one who receives it.” go listen to Sharon Tate’s sister, read what he father wrote, look at the crime scene photos, and ST you know what up with your sanctimonious put downs of other peoples ‘compassion’ and ‘principles’ ‘mercy’ etc. How many children do you have?? STFU.

And I think you should lose the phony high-minded sanctimony and your phony compassion and mercy and put it where it belongs on the 7 innocent people and baby that were BUTCHERED for sport and their relatives that were MOCKED in court and how Susan Atkins BRAGGED in jail how fun and exciting it was, reliving it over and over, and saying she would get off because she knew how to act innocent. Just so you know how out of touch you are here are comments on just one website. INTERESTING how you can also vote for someone who voted for war. THE MASS MURDER of innocents just doesn’t give you much pause does it?? ’ You are unable to make distinctions. I’d say more if this was’t a public board. but you are quite sickening. Quite. Some comments from the tens of thousands of citizens WITH A CLUE ABOUT MASS MURDERERS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE. ———————————————————- She should not receive one second of compassion as she did not give any to Sharon Tate and the others she murdered. In fact, they should withhold any morphine, pain meds from her so she can suffer as did Sharon Tate, the unborn baby and others that were brutally stabbed by this monster. Comment by Tr June 13, 2008 @ 3:27 pm Susan Atkins should not be released from prison until all of her victims are released. THAT WOULD MEAN NEVER. Comment by KC June 13, 2008 @ 3:51 pm I might be more sympathetic if the victims had been given a “compassionate release” from their dying, but they were slaughtered like animals. These folks should have gotten the death penalty, but never did - let her rot… Comment by P Butwin June 13, 2008 @ 4:11 pm They were sentenced to the death penalty, but California outlawed it before any of them were executed. Comment by mnjones June 13, 2008 @ 4:35 pm OMG - who cares if Sharon Atkins is dying? We all die eventually….some sooner then others (Sharon Tate). Why does she think she deservs to leave prison to be able to die with dignity at home? Comment by Jackie June 13, 2008 @ 4:56 pm Jeez, look at the hit count spike whenever we post about a newsworthy/controversial subject. Comment by thatjasonguy June 13, 2008 @ 5:18 pm are you kidding me? that’s what the judge should say!!! I can’t believe the system is even thinking about letting her out..this is ridiculous and shameful…what about the victims? “Look, bitch, you might as well face it right now, you’re going to die, and I don’t feel a thing behind it” those were Atkins last words to Sharon..well guess what?? now it’s our turn to say this to Atkins’ face.. Comment by jen June 13, 2008 @ 5:19 pm I say NO. Plain and simple, she is asking for a “compassionate release.” Was she compassionate to Sharon Tate when she pleaded for her life and the life of her unborn child?” The answer was NO she was not compassionate! How dare her… Comment by tina June 13, 2008 @ 5:19 pm Why is this even being considered? The fact that she thinks she should be given a “compassionate release” totally disgusts me. Did she show compassion for her victims? NO. LET HER ROT IN PRISON! Comment by earthangel432001 June 13, 2008 @ 5:26 pm No. I do not believe she should get less of a sentence on the matter. I do not even know why they would consider it. If it was her asking for the compassionate release, it is mighty bold of her to think she deserves it. Comment by someone~ June 13, 2008 @ 9:17 pm Susan killed and deserves no mercery why should we grant that She was a part of killing a pregnant woman for that she should burn but too bad she has a brain tumor she could have rotted in jail a few more years and not died so quickly! Drugs and studidity don’t absolve you of the crime. You knew right from wrong and you chose wrong. Sorry you have involved the media in your attempt to get out of jail but know this you will never escape judgement for what you did. Comment by Aileen June 13, 2008 @ 9:21 pm She has already received compassion in the form of being allowed to live out her natural life, which is more than she allowed the little baby of Sharon Tate, or any of her other victims. If she is allowed her freedom, then this world is truly messed up. Comment by Kathy June 13, 2008 @ 10:21 pm Let her rot for obvious reasons. No release. I can’t believe they would even consider this. Comment by cv June 13, 2008 @ 11:50 pm Is this some sort of April’s Fool Day joke that was delayed? People have died for less in prison and SOME have died and they were not even guilty of the crime they were imprisoned for..and this bloody murderer may be granted compassionate release??? Then go ahead and release more rapist and serial killers out of compassion. Comment by DeeCee June 14, 2008 @ 12:08 am NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! Should “Sexie Sadie” be let out. Bury her on the prison grounds when she dies. She does not belong anywhere in the freedom we call life, just like she did to that poor baby so close to having life. NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! Comment by PEROQUE June 14, 2008 @ 1:14 am So she wants out of prison…..the people in Hell want ice water too. She should stay in prison until she dies, and then she can go join the others in their quest for ice water. ROT IN HELL! Comment by Flyer June 14, 2008 @ 4:50 am Atkins should be shown the same kind of compassion she showed her victims. I don’t care how long ago her crimes were committed, she will be evil until the instant she dies. Comment by F Rogers June 14, 2008 @ 5:53 am Absolutely, in no way should she be released, for any reason. The only consideration of releasing her that should be taken into account is that her release would eliminate the burden of the cost of her medical care from the taxpayer. I am willingly pay the tax burden of her medical care to keep her confined to prison for the rest of her natural life. She was originally sentenced to death, now that sentence is being carried out by God, so be it. I find it ironic that in recent pictures of her, you can see an obvious growth on her forehead, centered around the place where she once scarred a cross into her head during her trial. I think God is trying to make a statement with that. I think those who control her release should listen. I am not without compassion for my fellow man, but in all honesty, it will make no difference in her life where she spends her last days, but it sends a clear message that committing such uncompassionate crimes, results in uncompassionate consideration for the offender for the rest of their lives without question Her belief in God is all she needs to bring her comfort in her last days. She doesn’t need to be released. Compassion is shown to her by the mere fact she has medical services provided to her and pain medication to ease her pain. That is far more than she provided her victims and the family members who survived them. It is far more than she deserves. Comment by Karen Wheeler June 14, 2008 @ 7:17 am NO! The torture that the victims went through is still the same as when she was sentenced. She is lucky that she has lived as long as she has. She absolutely should not receive any early release. Comment by K. OBrien June 16, 2008 @ 1:02 pm Absolutely NOT!!! I teach high school. I often hear students laughing at the way their sentences in court are reduced. They think the judicial system is a joke. What message will this send to them? Note that Susan Atkins was arrested for another murder where inmates heard her tell of the Tate murders. She in a monster. Sharon Tate’s baby should be 37 by now. She should serve every minute of her sentence. Comment by Joy Ross June 17, 2008 @ 7:04 pm

The woman has had quite a bit of mercy. She has not been executed and has been able to interact somewhat with society and even pursue an education. I’m sure she is getting medical care and can have visitors.

Gianna I am taking another run through this thread and I just saw your comment, I am sorry to hear about the tragedies in your family. I have kind of stayed away from this thread because some days I don’t want to go into the subject. Over the last 13 years I have had several deaths in my immediate family, (not violent), I had my own medical challenges, and then my oldest son who is in the army got sent off to Iraq and Afghanistan three times, he got back 3 weeks ago, so I am happy. I will go back to a thread and read a little and then post a little and off to somewhere else. I like your writing style. Thanks for opening up to us.