When Gavin Newsom refused to parole Sirhan Sirhan this month — the 16th time the convicted killer of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy has been rejected for release — California's governor hung his decision heavily on one central argument: Sirhan lacked "insight" into his crime, refusing to acknowledge guilt or accept responsibility for his acts.
"It is abundantly clear that, because of Sirhan's lack of insight, his release on parole would pose a threat to public safety," the governor wrote in an op-ed for The Times, noting that Sirhan, who has served 53 years behind bars, claims he doesn't even remember committing the crime.
Newsom's decision was in line with law, tradition and, presumably, public opinion. Most Americans probably agree that if we're going to let murderers go free, they at the very least ought to own up to their crimes, admit wrongdoing and express regret.
