I wonder where the Presidential candidates stand on the death penalty. After all, it is a life or death issue, and there is a certain hypocrisy on the issue across the board.
A long time ago -- oh, it seems long anyway although it was just 2000 at the turn of the century, New Hampshire was close to being the very first state to abolish the death penalty since the United States Supreme Court allowed executions again in the mid-1970s.
In 2000, the New Hampshire House and Senate surprised the state and excited many people throughout the country and the world by becoming the first legislative bodies to vote for legislation to abolish the death penalty in over 20 years. We had the public and personal support of Coretta Scott King, Bishop Desmond Tutu, former President Jimmy Carter, even the Vatican. Imagine -- it passed!
With just a signature waiting for the bill to become law, we heard that the Rome Coliseum would turn on its lights, but...
...the bill then ran into a wall. Governor Jeanne Shaheen vetoed it, and we failed to overcome her veto. I was in the thick of that debate, as primary sponsor of the bill. To this day I'm sad about Governor Shaheen's decision. I understand. But I disagree. We lost.
Just this week, New Jersey abolished the death penalty. The Rome Coliseum will turn on lights this week in recognition of the courage shown by New Jersey lawmakers, and Governor Jon S. Corzine. Some 36 states, including ours, still allow executions.
In signing the legislation, Governor Corzine, who is a Democrat, said “Today New Jersey is truly evolving. I believe society first must determine if its endorsement of violence begets violence, and if violence undermines our commitment to the sanctity of life. To these questions, I answer yes.”
There is a "cycle of violence" that former NH State Representative Renny Cushing, who is now Executive Director of Murder Victims Families For Reconciliation, refers to often in his speeches. The "cycle" is that when a horrible murder occurs, that victim's family grieves for their loss. And then when an execution occurs, yet another family is affected. The brothers and sisters, parents, and children of TWO families suffer. And Renny Cushing should know of what he speaks -- his father was killed in 1988 at his home by a man showing up at the front door.
The death penalty isn't a deterrent. It just cheapens our society, and that's not a good message for our young people. That's why most religions on this planet oppose the death penalty, as do most nations of the world. Right now, New Hampshire is in league with China, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Texas.
I believe all the Presidential candidates should take clear positions on the death penalty. For. Against. And why.
The new law in New Jersey, like the one I sponsored again this past Spring, replaces the death penalty by execution for capital murder with a death penalty of life-in-prison without any chance of parole. In a very real way, that is worse than the death penalty -- each and every day, the person who committed those horrible crimes will wake up behind the bars of a small cell, will smell the odors and hear the noises of the cell block all day, and will go to sleep in that cell. No more rides in a car, walks on a beach, or seeing the stars. That's their existence, until God decides their death penalty.
This year's death penalty abolition bill lost by only 12 votes in the New Hampshire House, by a vote of 185 to 173. It was defeated in large part because Governor John Lynch said he would use his veto stamp if it passed. I understand. But I disagree.
New Hampshire should abolish the death penalty. We need the courage to do so. And all the Presidential candidates -- Republican and Democrat -- should have the courage to say what they believe regarding the death penalty, and the message it gives to our kids about the way we treat everyone in our society.
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