To seek the death penalty for Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan (accused in the Fort Hood, Texas, massacre) is an exercise in futility ("Army to seek death penalty for Hasan," April 30). He is already paralyzed from the chest down. If he is brought to trial and found guilty, he will undoubtedly live out the rest of his life in a federal prison — with three meals a day and the best medical care available — all at the taxpayers’ expense.

The Army should 1. Find him incompetent to stand trial by reason of insanity and 2. Discharge him from the military for conduct unbecoming an officer with no benefits. Let his family take care of him. He deserves nothing more.

Maj. Kenneth S. BrooksOkinawa