Ill-served

To the editor:

David McClary, who in 1988 murdered police officer Edward Byrne, is now up for parole. I wholeheartedly agree with those who say he should not be released.

But a further issue is why is he even being considered for parole? Why is the standard sentence for murderers 25 years to life? Why is it not life without parole?

That should be the penalty for murder and attempted murder. This should not be limited to cop killers. The murderer of EMS Lt. Alison Russo should not be released in 25 years.

Casmine Aska was arrested for raping a 15-year-old girl at knifepoint. He had served only eight years for sexually assaulting and throwing off a roof an 8-year-old boy. Why was he not serving life? Is it asking too much that monsters not be released? Would it be asking too much for the legislature to pass a law that says life sentences actually mean life sentences and that it applies to all monsters?

Now we have a mayoral election coming up with polls showing that Democratic nominee Zohran Mandani, who advocates reducing the NYPD, is the favored candidate. He's so "popular" that he has the support of a whole 35 percent of respondents. He's good on many issues. But so is Comptroller Brad Lander, who also ran in the Democratic primary. But Lander favors increasing the police force. I guess it would have made too much sense to vote for him.

But in a country where cop killers are up for parole, a man who attempted to murder an 8-year-old boy was walking free and a man who attempted to overthrow the government did not spend one day in the jailhouse but is back in the White House, why should I expect justice?

Richard Warren