End death penalty now
The Rev. Patricia Ireland
Thursday, June 30, 2011
July 1 is the 17th anniversary of the implementation of the death penalty in Kansas, and I believe all Kansans should take time to reflect seriously on the impact this policy has had on Kansas.
Gov. Pat Quinn of Illinois noted, “It is impossible to create a perfect system, free of all mistakes. I think it’s the right and just thing to abolish the death penalty and punish those who commit heinous crimes – evil people – with life in prison without parole or any chance of release.”
In 17 years, Kansas has had nine death row inmates and has yet to carry out even one execution. Indeed, every death sentence handed down by a Kansas jury has been overturned by the Kansas Supreme court, a part of the automatic and lengthy appeals process. The Kansas death statute is not only ineffective, but expensive and risks the safety of the public.
In 2004, the Kansas legislature investigated the death penalty and found that in Kansas capital punishment costs 70 percent more than life sentences without parole. And in a recent national poll of law enforcement personnel, the death penalty ranked dead last as a tool for decreasing crime.
Police recognize that the high price tag of pursuing the death penalty siphons dollars away from preventing crime in the first place. The cost of death penalty trials is often covered by raising taxes or by cutting services like law enforcement, ultimately making our society less safe.
It is time for the death penalty to come under the microscope again. We are cutting funding for schools while wasting money implementation of a death penalty that only makes Kansas less safe. I call upon Governor Brownback and the legislature to abolish the death penalty in Kansas.
The Rev. Patricia Ireland
Cottonwood Falls
dalelinn (Dale Linn) says...
Ah, yes. Let's just ignore the fact that heinous crimes are committed by perpetrators, repeatedly. Let's just ignore the fact that these people ruin peoples lives, sometimes ending them. Because it is cruel to these perpetrators and because our court systems have their faults, let's just cut them a break. That way they can possibly, just possibly get a chance to ruin, or perhaps end, a few more lives. Makes perfect sense to me.
June 30, 2011 at 7:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
I'll say this, if the process is so cumbersome and expensive that they can never use the darn thing then do away with it, or streamline it. Problem with the death penalty is that no one fears it anymore, because appeals go on forever.
June 30, 2011 at 8:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
romano1784 (anonymous) says...
How much would it save to just stop the alcohol swap prior to the lethal injection? I mean its not like they should worry about infection or contamination.
July 5, 2011 at 7:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
LOL romano
Keep the death penalty, just allow one appeal only then aloha, adios, and auf Wiedersehen.
July 5, 2011 at 9:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )