It’s time to abolish the death penalty

The time is right. The time is now. This issue has been discussed for more than 20 years yet this inhumane, barbaric action still exists.

The issue came before the state Legislature this session but, disappointingly, never passed the committee despite encouragement by Gov. Jay Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson. The death penalty dehumanizes us, encourages violence and is arbitrarily unjust. Do we want to stand with China, Saudi Arabia and other rogue nations in condoning the murder of human beings? We are just as bad as the criminal in this instance.

Capital punishment does not deter crime nor does it lower recidivism. It drains our resources and wastes tax dollars as well as wastes lives. Innocent people have been put to death. When Gov. Inslee placed a moratorium on executions in 2014, he asked for public conversation. Let’s keep the conversation going. Let’s join other civilized nations who have abolished the death penalty. Let’s do it now. The time is right. For more information visit the Fellowship of Reconciliation web site: olympiafor.org.

This story was originally published April 21, 2017 at 7:16 PM with the headline "It’s time to abolish the death penalty."