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American Morning

Ask CNN: Will the Execution of Timothy McVeigh Truly Relieve the Survivors of the Oklahoma City Bombing?

Aired June 08, 2001 - 10:12   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PETER KUCYK, MOUNTDORA, FLORIDA: My name is Peter Kucyk. I'm from Mountdora, Florida. My question is: Will the execution of Timothy McVeigh truly relieve the survivors of the Oklahoma City bombing?

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Peter, I've gotten to know many of these relatives over the past six years and I think it's fair to say that many of them say yes. Others say no and others just aren't sure. They'll have to wait until after the execution to see how they feel. Among those who say yes are many people who are planning to watch the execution via closed circuit television and they tell us they're doing it because they owe it to their loved ones.

DANIEL MCKINNEY, HUSBAND OF VICTIM: To watch him die is going to, I hope, bring me peace that I haven't been able to accomplish because of him for six years.

TUCHMAN: But there are many people, including those who plan to witness the execution, who say it will not relieve their pain whatsoever.

LYLE COUSINS, HUSBAND OF VICTIM: Just knowing that he's going to be executed doesn't make this any easier. Just the passing of time, actually, is what makes it easier. Personally, I don't think his dying is going to bring closure for anybody.

TUCHMAN: And that's one thing we hear over and over again, the families and the survivors hate the word closure. While many of them say they will feel some relief after the execution, they say there's no way they could ever possibly have closure after losing their loved ones.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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