Bill Lucero, a longtime friend and volunteer of KCADP is setting out to ride 100 miles on his bike, in a single day, in order to raise awareness about the death penatly repeal efforts in Kansas.
“Forty years following my father’s murder I am still working for repeal of the death penalty in Kansas. I know first-hand that capital punishment will not bring solace or closure to murder victim family members. Rather, I believe this method of retribution only hardens affected families and perpetuates an endless cycle of suffering.” ~ Bill Lucero
Click here for more information on how you can support his Ride for Repeal!
KCADP would like to thank Bill for all his efforts and involvement in the repeal movement here in Kansas! KCADP can not make abolition possible without such amazing grassroots efforts like this! Thank you Bill!
If you would like to support Bill on his Ride for Repeal please click here to make your donation.
Last night, Topeka police officers Cpl. David Gogian and Jeff Atherly were killed in the line of duty. The horrific tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut on Friday shook us to our core. As we shared our grief with the families in Connecticut, our anguish only deepened with the loss of two law enforcement officers who gave their lives protecting Kansans.
Our hearts go out to the families in Newtown, and to the families, friends and colleagues of Cpl. Gogian and Officer Atherly. No words can truly express our sense of loss and heartbreak in the wake of these two tragedies. Our thoughts and prayers are with both communities at this time.
In an editorial published today, the Marysville Advocate called for Kansas to replace the death penalty with a life sentence without parole.
The editorial highlighted many of the problems with the death penalty, including the risk of executing an innocent person. The Advocate writes, “investigations in other execution-minded states continue to reveal there is no fail-safe death penalty. Some defendants there have been put to death and later evidence surfaced revealing their innocence. It’s a frightening prospect that states hold that much power, because sometimes they get it wrong.”
The Advocate concludes by saying “Locking someone up for life is far less costly and far more humane.”
To read the full editorial, click here.
In the last few weeks there has been a lot of momentum toward abolishing the death penalty in Kansas.
At the March 15th hearing on the death penalty, several murder victim family members spoke to the committee about the need to abolish the death penalty in Kansas.
Kristi Smith, a KCADP board member, spoke to the committee about losing her father to violent crime. This Topeka Capital Journal story follows Kristi’s story and the impact that her father’s murder has had on her life.
More recently, Pittsburg State University hosted two speakers on March 30th who called for an end to the death penalty.
Rob Warden, the executive director of the Center on Wrongful Conviction, and Sr. Helen Prejean, of “Dead Man Walking” fame visited Pittsburg and spoke at separate events at Pittsburg State University on March 30th.
This Pittsburg Morning Sun article covered both speakers and their calls for Kansas to abolish the death penalty.
It may come as a surprise, but Kansas has a long and tumultuous history with the death penalty. On January 30, 1907, we became one of the first states to legislatively repeal the death penalty when Governor Hoch, an ardent opponent of capital punishment, signed
abolition legislation.
This January 30th, to commemorate Kansas Abolition Day,
we need you to call on Governor Brownback to take a strong and vocal stance against the death penalty. The more phone calls we make, the bigger the impact so please mark your calendars for
Governor Call-In Day, January 30th, 2012. And don’t forget to join the event on the KCADP’s
facebook page.
Governor Brownback’s office number is (877) 579-6757 or (785) 296-3232 for local calls.
When calling the Governor’s office, be sure to thank him for his service and tell the staffer on the phone exactly why you oppose the death penalty. You can also use our call script below:
Hi, this is <your name> from <your town> and I am calling to urge Governor Brownback to make repealing the Kansas death penalty a priority in 2012. The death penalty doesn’t make Kansans any safer, doesn’t deter violent crime and diverts money from more effective law enforcement tools. Our criminal justice system sometime gets it wrong and it is unacceptable to risk executing an innocent person. Life without the possibility of parole is less expensive, keeps Kansans safe and doesn’t risk innocent lives. I want to thank Governor Brownback for his service and encourage him to do the right thing and speak up against the death penalty.
Stay tuned to our website and emails for more information.
The newly-released report from the Death Penalty Information Center reveals what many have suspected: that the support and use of capital punishment in the United States is declining.
Citing the abolition of the death penalty in Illinois, the moratorium in Oregon, and the execution of Troy Davis in Georgia, DPIC breaks down the reasons for numbers such as: new death sentences reaching an all-time low, dropping below 100 in 2011. This is a first in the modern era of capital punishment in America.
While 34 states retain the death penalty at the time of this writing, DPIC outlines reasons that the heyday of the death penalty in this country may be over. The report concludes that:
Many of those challenging the death penalty now had defended it in the past, including people
who introduced death penalty legislation or presided over executions. The multitude of problems
associated with the death penalty is gradually convincing Americans that it can no longer be
sustained.
The report may be viewed here.
On December 16, 2011, the Emporia Gazette published a column by Bob Grover entitled, “Abolish the death penalty in Kansas” which outlined many reasons that the death penalty in Kansas should be replaced with life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Grover approaches this topic from a variety of angles, including cost, deterrence, fairness, and innocence. But perhaps the most compelling argument Grover makes considers the needs of family members of homicide victims. He quotes Stan Bohn of North Newton, KS:
Perhaps forgiveness is the most compelling reason for abolishing the death penalty. My sister was raped and murdered, a shocking experience for us. Our family never had a chance to meet the murderer but wanted to in order to help the long slow healing process. None of us wanted the execution kind of ‘closure’ that can’t compensate the loss and only hinders real healing that might happen in victim-criminal talks. It’s time to end death penalty vengeance and consider the deeper healing that the victims need.
The entire article may be found here.
Last week, Kansas’ abolition movement made national news as one of several states with a shot at ending the death penalty in 2012. The Washington, D.C. based newspaper Politico listed Kansas, along with California, Maryland, Connecticut, and Ohio, as a state that’s making a big push to end the death penalty. KCADP Board Chair Donna Schneweis was mentioned in the article, stating that Kansans from across the political spectrum support abolition.
You can read the full article here.
Written on
November 28, 2011 by
Ben in
news
Citing regret for executions that took place in his state over 10 years ago, Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber announced last week that no further executions would take place in his state while he is the Governor.
“I simply cannot participate once again in something that I believe to be morally wrong,” the governor said in uncharacteristically emotional remarks during a news conference in his office.
Kitzhaber’s term is set to expire in January 2015 and he has not stated whether he will run for re-election.
For more information about this incredible story, please take a look at the coverage in the Kansas City Star.
Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make the KCADP Rally for Repeal a huge success!
Thanks especially to Jeremy Schroeder and Diann Rust-Tierney for flying in and speaking to an energized Kansas crowd. The 2012 legislative session is coming up very soon, and we look forward to working with Kansans from every corner of the state in the coming weeks and months.
Some of you have inquired about a book that Ms. Rust-Tierney referenced during her talk.
Here is the link to “Everyone Leads: Building Leadership from the Community Up”.
And here is an excellent article about our event, please take a moment to check it out!
Finally, some have asked for more information about the link between education and violent crime rate.
It may be found here.
Jeremy Schroeder told us on Saturday that, “You’re closer than you believe.” And Diann Rust-Tierney urged Kansas to “finish this fight.” With supporters like the ones who gathered on Saturday–in person or in spirit–it is not a question of if, but when, Kansas will replace the death penalty.
Thanks again for making KCADP a part of your daily lives. We look forward to celebrating death penalty abolition with each and every one of you!
Bill Lucero, a longtime friend and volunteer of KCADP is setting out to ride 100 miles on his bike, in a single day, in order to raise awareness about the death penatly repeal efforts in Kansas.
