Death Penalty on Its Way Out
On Wednesday, March 13, California Governor Gavin Newsom made history by announcing that he would not allow the state to execute anyone on his watch. “Our death penalty system has been – by any measure – a failure. And as governor, I will not oversee the execution of any individual,” he said in his announcement.
“By any measure.” I like that. It doesn’t matter whether your concern is the unavoidable and horrifyingly frequent execution of innocent people (163 since 1973), the phenomenally high cost per execution to the taxpayer, or the fundamental unfairness of inflicting the harshest of punishments disproportionately onto the poor and people of color.
Maybe you think the Unites States should have higher moral sensibilities than those of the only six countries of the world that carry out capital punishment more than we do (China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Pakistan and Egypt), and you share the belief that this is not a part of a civilized society. Again, it doesn’t matter.
If you’re of mind to tip your hat to the governor for his leadership on this issue, please join me in thanking him by signing here.
Craig,
At last, and issue on which we can agree 100% !
Not only is capital punishment barbaric, expensive and run the risk of execution of innocent people, but it’s also totally ineffective and counter-productive. (the murder rate increases in states with the death penalty).
Another reason, often overlooked, is the reluctance of juries to convict in death penalty states. This means more guilty murderers are acquitted!
Redemption and rehabilitation must be the guiding principle of every civilized society.
I’ll confess, if you hurt and murdered my loved ones, you better pray the police find you before me, but I don’t believe that my anger or desire for revenge is either civilized or morally justifiable.
Society as a whole, should be more considered and civilized than a grieving individual. All we have between ourselves and becoming bestial is our civilized principles of compassion, justice, fairness and sense of duty.
In my own state of Victoria, Australia, I’m proud to day I was very involved with the successful campaign to abolish the death penalty in Victoria in 1975.
I’m equally proud the Australian Armed forces has never executed any Australian serviceman or women since the creation of the Australian Armed Forces in 1903. The absence of the death penalty has not diminished Australia’s military reputation.
I hope Governor Gavin Newsom succeeds in his noble quest.