Moratorium on death penalty makes sense
Monday, March 19, 2007 11:41 AM PDT
When it comes to the death penalty, statistics tell a sobering story. Since 1976, more than 100 people in the United States have been released from death row because new evidence — usually discovered by independent, human rights groups — of their innocence was unearthed.
That revelation sparks unpleasant and troubling questions regarding the possibility other people have been executed who may very well have been innocent.
The death penalty is in the news again as Oregon legislators ponder a move to slap a moratorium on the law in the state.
Lawmakers want to create a task force to ascertain whether the death penalty really does act as a major deterrent to crime or whether it is cost-effective.
One major issue with the proposal is the fact voters in Oregon have consistently voted to keep the penalty in place.
While arguments can be made either way, there is certainly nothing wrong with lawmakers taking a step aback and reevaluating the death penalty.
The key question lawmakers should explore is does the death penalty really deter crime?
Oregon is not alone regarding a reevaluation of the death penalty.
Many other states, and even the United States Supreme Court, are reviewing the ultimate penalty law.
Some question whether the committees of lawmakers that will study the issue are truly going to view the issue through an unbiased lens.
There may be some merit to that assertion but a temporary stay on the death penalty to study whether it really does deter crime is not a bad idea.
At the very least it shows Oregon is a state willing to review its policies from time to time, which is a good thing in terms of accountability.
