The number of Conservative voices in the state calling for repeal continues to grow. Just this week, Bryan Baumgart, former Douglas County Republican Chair, wrote a public pulse piece that was published in the Omaha World-Herald.
Mr. Baumgart said:
“The Legislature’s Judiciary Committee unanimously approved a measure (Legislative Bill 268) to replace the death penalty with life without the possibility of release. With broad bipartisan support and increasing momentum, the bill now heads to the full Legislature for a vote. As a conservative Republican, I have come to the conclusion that I do not support capital punishment. It risks innocent lives, costs more than its alternatives, fails to deter crime, and even harms the friends and families of murder victims.
“The death penalty is fiscally irresponsible. After a lengthy appeals process, sentencing someone to life in prison without the possibility of release is only a fraction of the cost of attempting to execute someone. The death penalty is a danger to innocent lives. The probability of executing the wrong person is far too high. Any risk of terminating the life of an innocent person is not a risk worth taking. With all of the costs and risks, the death penalty still doesn’t keep society safe or provide the justice that the victims’ families deserve.”