We hereby petition our governor and state legislators to abolish the death penalty in Delaware. In its place, we propose a sentence for capital crimes of life in prison without possibility of parole.
Why is this important?
Citizens of conscience in Delaware believe the state should not have authority to kill. Many of us believe the Almighty holds that taking a life, except in self-defense, is objectively wrong.
We also know from many studies of capital punishment that it does not deter murder. Rates of murder are not lower in states having the highest rates of capital punishment. Accordingly, if such taking of life is ineffective as a deterrent, what possible justification for it do we have?
We think none.
