James Acker : If anyone has death penalty problems , it would seem to be James White . That 's only if it 's proved he 's too mentally ill to be responsible in theater killings , Acker says . In a country topping 300 million in population and plagued annually by in excess of 13,000 murders , 78 offenders were added to the nation 's death rows last year , down 75 % from the 326 sentenced to die in 1995 . He says death penalty costs too much , takes little and is used less and less . White : Does killing after murder make us better ? Is it consistent with our self - respect ?
James Acker : If anyone has death penalty problems , it would seem to be James White . That 's only if it 's proved he 's too mentally ill to be responsible in theater killings , Acker says . He says death penalty costs too much , takes little and is used less and less . White : Does killing after murder make us better ? Is it consistent with our self - respect ?