Two nights ago, Texas executed Gerald Mitchell. Although he was 33 years old at the time of… Two nights ago, Texas executed Gerald Mitchell. Although he was 33 years old at the time of his death, he was 17 when he killed two people and attempted to kill a third.

At age 17, you cannot vote. You cannot serve in the military. You cannot drink. You cannot even smoke.

But in Texas, Pennsylvania and 21 other states, society can kill you.

These states do not believe 17-year-olds are responsible enough to understand the consequences of their decisions to choose representatives, serve in the military, drink and smoke. But they do believe a 17-year-old can understand the consequences of killing someone.

This should not be surprising. Too often, we