Hope rising in US for national death penalty ban


March 25, 2009

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Death penalty opponents in the United States hope 
New Mexico's decision to ban capital punishment is a turning point, 
as a crippling economic crisis becomes their latest argument for 
abolition.
Last week Democratic Governor Bill Richardson made his southwestern 
state the 15th in the nation to outlaw executions, after state 
lawmakers voted for the move.
Richardson's "courageous and enlightened decision should send a 
powerful message to other states, governors and Americans about the 
need to take a hard look at our error-prone, discriminatory and 
bankrupting system of capital punishment," the American Civil 
Liberties Union said after the bill became law.
The director of the ACLU Capital Punishment Project, John Holdridge, 
highlighted the economic reasoning behind a ban, citing "the 
exorbitant cost to the taxpayers of maintaining the death penalty."
Supporters of the new law said that replacing the death sentence with 
life in prison without parole will save the state more than one 
million dollars each year.
Opponents maintain the death penalty is a deterrent to the most 
heinous crimes. Despite the New Mexico decision, 35 of the 50 US 
states still have capital punishment laws on their books.
Twenty prisoners have already been executed in 2009. The southern 
state of Texas is the national record holder -- executing 12 this 
year, and in 2008 accounting for 18 out of the 37 executions nationwide.
Richard Dieter, director of the anti-capital punishment group Death 
Penalty Information Center (DPIC), told AFP that last week's decision 
is critical, and that "some states had to take a lead."
It is time for state legislators to begin reevaluating the 
punishment, he said, adding that he thought "we'll see more states 
doing that kind of review."
Economic reasons are key to prompting new reviews, he said.
The cost "is the issue of the day. (It is) getting these legislators 
to give these bills a hearing and to give them a vote... because any 
program that is offered and says we can save money" is getting 
consideration, he said.
If a wave of states follow New Mexico's lead, supporters may pursue a 
repeal of the Supreme Court's 1976 reinstatement of the death 
penalty, citing the US Constitution's rebuke of "cruel and unusual 
punishment" to argue for national abolition.
"In these economic times, government must consider its limited 
resources, take a careful look at all of its programs and policy 
choices, and retain only what works and works well," said Diann Rust-
Tierney, director of the National Coalition To Abolish The Death 
Penalty.
Death sentences can be up to 10 times more expensive than a life 
prison sentence. In addition to a longer trial, the extended appeals 
procedures the penalty entails can also take a costly toll, with 
defending lawyers often paid by the state.
Legislative moves across the United States are being followed closely 
by advocates of a ban.
An abolition law is being considered by state houses in Montana, 
Colorado and Illinois and two-year moratoriums on carrying out 
executions are under consideration in Missouri and Nevada. Such a 
measure is already under way in Nebraska.
Legislative proposals have also been filed in Connecticut and Texas 
and last week a proposal was filed with the US Congress to ban 
executions at the federal level.
But the issue remains political fraught, despite legislative moves.
On Wednesday the New Hampshire House of Representatives voted 193-174 
in favor of overturning the state's death penalty statute. But the 
move faces further legislative hurdles and a likely veto from 
Governor John Lynch.
"The next step is that the bill will go to the (state) Senate," House 
spokesperson Cissy Taylor said, pointing to previous attempts to 
change the law.
"In 2000 and again two years ago there were moves to repeal the death 
penalty, but they failed, in 2000 it was vetoed by then governor 
Jeanne Shaheen."
Today's governor Lynch looks set to do the same. "I believe there are 
some crimes that are so heinous, the death penalty is warranted. If 
legislation repealing the death penalty were to reach my desk I would 
veto it," he said in a statement.
As political battles are played out in New Hampshire and elsewhere, 
DPIC's Dieter warns against a rushed celebration of the death 
penalty's demise.
"It's not going to happen all at once," he said.
Yet "as it's used rarely and the costs continue, the frustration with 
the death penalty rises. I think we will see more states saying it's 
just not worth keeping."
Copyright © 2009 AFP