Count on my neighbor Representative Gerald Lange (D-8/Madison) to stand up for principle and good policy. Lange is prime sponsor of
House Bill 1245, a measure to repeal South Dakota's death penalty. Thirteen legislators, all Democrats, have signed their name to this bill. I applaud them for having the gumption to look South Dakota's screwed-up, bloodthirsty machismo in the eye and say that killing people, even killing bad people, is wrong.
Here's a quick review of the reasons you should call your legislators and tell them to back HB 1245:
- Capital punishment doesn't deter crime.
- Capital punishment costs more than life imprisonment.
- Capital punishment risks killing innocent people.
- Killing prisoners is immoral.
Let's do the right thing for our budget, for justice, and for our souls. Stop state-sponsored killing—pass HB 1245 and repeal the death penalty.
Gerry has always been true to his convictions and consistent on life issues. I applaud him on his efforts again this year and share his belief.
ReplyDeleteI would change your last Point to say - the government approving any killing (whether by death penalty or abortion) is morally wrong. In either instance, a life is lost, possibilities of redemption are lost, and as a society we are diminished.
--Lee Schoenbeck
Thanks Lee.
ReplyDeleteI'd have a lot more respect for anti-choice advocates if more of them were as consistent as you are on this.
I maintain that the approach of reducing abortions by legislation doesn't respect life as much as implementing policies that make it unnecessary is a better approach, and protects women's lives.
But your consistency opens the door to that kind of useful discussion.
Thank you for that.
I agree with Gerry Lange 100 percent on this issue. If I were Governor I would never sign a death warrant anyway, law or no law.
ReplyDelete