Burch, D-Louisville, said he voted for capital punishment when Kentucky reinstated it after a national moratorium in the 1970s, but now thinks there are better ways to deal with crime. Criminal-justice matters ordinarily come before the judiciary committee, but Burch said the death penalty can also be considered a health issue. Burch said the meeting is primarily to hear the abolition case, but if death-penalty supporters want to talk and time allows, he would allow them to speak. People who want to see the death penalty left in place are lobbying and plan to raise money for their own campaign to educate the public, said Phillips. Phillips also said the public doesn't understand it would cost more to keep criminals in prison for life, though death-penalty foes argue capital punishment costs more.
Supporters argue that for some crimes, death is the only just punishment.
Foes of the death penalty, however, argue there is a danger innocent people will be executed, that minorities and poor people are more likely to be sentenced to death, and that state executions are immoral. The death penalty is just killing, and killing is wrong,'' said Delahanty. Police in Columbus charged Tucker with aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder and aggravated robbery in connection with the July 29 armed robbery at Lev's Pawn Shop that left one man dead and another paralyzed with brain damage. Tucker, who was captured in Ohio on Aug. 29, is being held at the Franklin County Jail in Ohio. His bond is to be set at an arraignment hearing scheduled for today at Columbus Municipal Court.