Conservatives push for nearly unthinkable death penalty ban

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

World | Thu Mar 31, 2016 11:51am EDT

Conservatives push for nearly unthinkable death penalty ban

AUSTIN, TEXAS | BY JON HERSKOVITZ

A former gun industry lobbyist and budget-hawk Republicans are leading what might seem to be an unlikely hard-right campaign - trying to sway conservatives in places like Utah and Kansas that they should be the first Republican-held state in four decades to ban the death penalty.

The push from the political advocacy group Conservatives Concerned about the Death Penalty and lawmakers in places such as Nebraska would have been unthinkable a few years ago when it would have been conservative heresy to end capital punishment, a program seen as bedrock issue of the law-and-order policies embraced by the party.

But those leading the campaign say the death penalty is a costly, inefficient and heavily bureaucratic program that runs counter to their core conservative values of limited government.

"This is not an issue just for bleeding heart liberals. This is an issue that pragmatic conservatives are getting on board with," said Marc Hyden, a coordinator of Conservatives Concerned about the Death Penalty, a network of political and social conservatives who say capital punishment does not align with their values.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-executions-idUSKCN0WX1TP

[djean111]

1. Why do I feel like the only thing that really bothers them is the cost? n/t

[Wilms]

2. It may well be. So be it.

We need the cooperation, if not the heart. In NY State there was an effort to save the lever voting system instead of going to computers. Of course the activist got NOWHERE with Dems. But they got a lot of support from repubs. Why? Because of security? No. Cost was all they mentioned.

[NightWatcher]

3. I don't care why they abolish it as long as they end it, but yes it is more expensive

than if you left them in a basic cell until they die of old age. Plus there is huge cost associated with the automatic appeals process that goes with the DP for the state.

[Nye Bevan]

4. Excellent.

Their reasons for wanting to abolish it are valid ones, even if there are many other reasons, and I really don't care as long as they want to get rid of it.