Travis County DA candidates and the death penalty

The D.A.'s Deadly Decision (0.00 / 0)

Thank you for posting this.  

I realize that the campaign to end the death penalty has withered on the vine as a result of the searing notion that it is not politically feasible to end the death penalty in Texas, or even in Travis County.  It is the same kind of notion that keeps Texas from having an income tax.  Many years ago, it was the same kind of notion that kept the Vietnam War going on.  But we create our own political realities.

Thanks to the South Austin Democrats who asked the D.A. candidates questions about this issue.  It is disappointing not to see any candidate step up and say that he/she would enforce the law without using the death penalty.

But it is morally outrageous to hear a candidate (Montford) say that her decision to use the death penalty would depend on the victims' feelings (i.e. revenge) and "the cost to the taxpayers."  But in all fairness to her, she's in line with conventional "wisdom" on this issue.

When the effort by Democrats in the Legislature to pass a "life without parole" law is defeated, it tells you that it is not public safety concerns that drives support for the death penalty; it is merely revenge...and, perhaps as Montford suggested, because it's cheaper.

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by: Justice @ Sun Jan 20, 2008 at 17:16:59 PM UTC

Way to keep up. (1.00 / 2)

Texas does have a life without parole law, passed, as i recall, in 2005.... by a Republican Legislature and signed by a Republican Governor.  

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by: Bob @ Mon Jan 21, 2008 at 04:19:15 AM UTC

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