In 1994 when the Legislature was debating the reinstatement of the Kansas death penalty, proponents kept saying the tragedy of murder had to lead to another death via execution. Murder victim family member Bill Lucero visited legislators and told them that it did not need to end that way. He told the House Federal and State Affairs Committee in January 1994 ”The death … [Read more...] about Murder: It doesn’t have to end with another death
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HB 2282: A Mother Speaks
“Because I did not have to deal with the death penalty the offender was sentenced closer to the time of the crime. Then I began to deal with my loss because there were no longer court distractions and it still took me several years to recover to a new normal.” Wilma Loganbill, whose son was murdered in 1999, in support of repealing the Kansas death penalty. … [Read more...] about HB 2282: A Mother Speaks
House Abolition Bill Achieves New Firsts!
House Bill 2282 was introduced on February 12th. It has 32 sponsors—the most ever for a Kansas abolition bill! There are 15 Republican sponsors and 17 Democratic sponsors. A hearing was held on February 19th in House Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee. Twenty people provided written or oral testimony in support of ending the death penalty. … [Read more...] about House Abolition Bill Achieves New Firsts!
Death Penalty Abolition Legislation Introduced!
Bills to replace the Kansas death penalty have been filed in both the House and Senate. SB 21 was introduced on January 17th and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. HB 2282 was introduced on February 12th and referred to House Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee. Both bills would end the death penalty for the most serious murders in Kansas … [Read more...] about Death Penalty Abolition Legislation Introduced!
Abolition is a Non-Partisan Issue
Many Kansans used to think that a politician’s stance on abolition could be predicted by what party he or she was representing. The 2010 Senate vote showed the fallacy of that belief. Twelve Republicans and eight Democrats supported abolition, and nineteen Republicans and one Democrat opposed it. The most recent abolition bill, HB 2167, introduced in 2017, continued the … [Read more...] about Abolition is a Non-Partisan Issue
"What I saw set my soul on fire…"
“They killed a man with fire one night. They strapped him in a wooden chair and pumped electricity through his body until he was dead.” …I was there. I saw it with my own eyes. What I saw set my soul on fire, a fire that burns me still. And now here is an account of how I came to be and still am.” (Sr. Helen Prejean) Sr. Helen shared first hand accounts at KU on March 5th … [Read more...] about "What I saw set my soul on fire…"
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