Executing criminals does not effectively address the roots of violence in our society. It has not been shown to effectively deter the sorts of crimes for which it is applied. It does not restore lives destroyed by acts of violence. The Friends Committee on National Legislation seeks abolition of the death penalty because we believe that state-sanctioned killing denies the sacredness of human life and violates our belief in the human capacity for change. There are sound reasons for questioning accuracy and fairness in the application of the death penalty.
Persuasive evidence exists that the death penalty is applied in a racially disparate manner.
Juries are not always instructed about how to consider mitigating factors such as mental retardation or mental illness. DNA testing has increased public awareness of the fallibility of the criminal justice system. There is no way to prevent innocent persons from being sentenced to death. Once carried out, that sentence is irreversible. FCNL supports a moratorium as a first step to ending the death penalty.