Posted by Benjamin on: 03.16.2009 /
93 countries in the world have abolished use of the death penalty. The U.S. is not one of them. This past Friday the New Mexico state legislature voted to do away with capital punishment in the state of New Mexico. The repeal of capital punishment is now awaiting New Mexico governor Bill Richarson’s signature. Richardson has said he is considering it.
The National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty is asking its members to lodge their opinions with Governor Richardson by calling the hotline he has set up for this purpose at +1 (505) 476-2225, or by using this contact form.
If Richardson signs the bill, New Mexico will become the 14th U.S. state to abolish the death penalty.
What are your thoughts on the arguments for and against the death penalty?
One of the ones that really gets me is the arbitrariness. I mean in one sense, life is kind of like that–some of us get to have, for instance, food, clean water, a place to live, education, etc. etc., while lots of others don’t. I don’t see why we should be sort of reiterating this arbitrariness when choosing who shall live and who shall die.
Another one that gets me is the long list of people who have been sentenced to death only to be later exonerated, some even posthumously. Seems beyond horrible to me to allow ourselves the possibility even of accidentally executing an innocent.