Our View: Hi-Line darts and laurels

Darts: A court case is being held now concerning whether the present form of lethal injection is the best to use in Montana. There is something bizarre about such a debate. It seems best to us that the debate should be solved by simply eliminating the death penalty entirely in the state and coming up with a more effective punishment for people who have taken another’s life. The present form of killing convicted criminals is out of step with today’s thinking. No one seriously thinks it is a deterrent to crime. It is a long, drawn out, costly affair. Montana came one vote away from eliminating the death penalty during the last legislative session. We hope the next time the lawmakers meet they will end this medieval practice.

Laurel: An effort is underway to bring attention to the serious problem Montana faces with suicide. In just about every age category, Montana has one of the highest rates of suicide in the nation. The most suicides occur in September. That’s why this is a good month to have a discussion on the causes and solutions for suicide. Havre High School Key Club has launched an effort to let people know of the suicide plague in the state. They will have a walk against suicide and a public discussion of the issue at Montana State University-Northern at 7 p.m. Tuesday. We hope there is a big turnout.

Laurel: Police will be out in force this weekend looking for drunken drivers and other reckless drivers who plan on entering the official end to the summer season in all the wrong ways. The number of automobile  accidents, especially accidents that cause fatalities and serious injuries, are way down in recent years. We’d like to think that is because educational programs have convinced motorists to stay safe and sober. But we’re sure that the enforcement has caused the better safety record.

Laurel: President William McKinley, we’re sure, was a fine man who should be honored by history. And indeed he has been. There are geographic locations all over the Unites States named in his honor. In fact, we have a street in Havre named after him. So we think his legacy will remain strong despite President Barack Obama’s wise decision to rename Alaska’s highest peak. It will revert to Denali, the name it was called for centuries before Europeans arrived in Alaska. That is a fine tribute to the Natives who have long inhabited the state.