"Death Penalty Repeal Returns," is the title of Jerry Oster's report for Public News Service.
Today, a bill that would repeal the death penalty in South Dakota will be heard in the House State Affairs Committee. HB 1245 would mandate life in prison without parole for people convicted of Class A felonies.
The Association of Christian Churches of South Dakota supports the bill, which is sponsored by Rep. Gerald Lange (D-Madison). The association's executive director, Gene Miller, says the issue may have been out of public view until recently, but the group has not changed its views.
"This has gotten kind-of pushed to the side in light of other issues, but we still have the same stance, we still have the same position."
The state has carried out only one execution in the last 50 years, that of Elijah Page in 2007 who had been convicted of murder. Miller says legislators must consider the moral implications of the death penalty.
And:
Similar efforts to repeal the death penalty have failed in the past few years. Those who favor the death penalty say it has broad support across the state, and believe it is an effective crime deterrent.
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