And yet the popularity of the death penalty in the United States is growing at a frenzied rate. Pre-election debates between candidates are dominated with challenges of who has the longer history of support for capital punishment. Legislators pander for re-election votes with new laws that will hasten executions and limit the appeals process. This tightening of defense resources and the increasing number of death sentences bring with them an even greater likelihood of innocent people being executed. The only way to prevent the execution of innocent people is to abolish the death penalty.
Capital punishment is ineffective as a deterrent, costly, uncivilized and inhumane.
Its abolition is long overdue. If you would like to write a guest column, call Tim Whyte at 259-1234, ext.