"Dialogue still lacking on Colorado death penalty," is the editorial published in today's Denver Post.
We're not surprised that Gov. John Hickenlooper said in a yet-to-be-aired TV interview that he could grant clemency to convicted killer Nathan Dunlap if somehow he did not win re-election in November.
We would expect no less from someone who has deep-seated concerns about the death penalty.
As opponents of the death penalty, we believe clemency would be the right call.
The disappointing aspect of the situation, in our view, lies not with Hickenlooper's stance on sparing the life of Dunlap, but that the governor hasn't fulfilled what we see as his obligation to lead a broader conversation about the death penalty.
"An odd election issue," is the Vail Daily editorial.
There are just three men on Colorado’s death row, but don’t be surprised if the death penalty becomes a significant part of this fall’s gubernatorial campaign.
Gov. John Hickenlooper brought attention to the issue in May 2013 when he indefinitely delayed the execution of Nathan Dunlap, a man convicted of the brutal murder of four people at a Denver-area restaurant in 1993. Hickenlooper’s delay applies as long as he’s governor, meaning he made the literal life-or-death decision some future governor’s problem.
Campaign ads for Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez have already raised the subject, and we expect it to become a more prominent part of the challenger’s case against the incumbent.
KUSA-TV posts, "Hickenlooper: Decision on Dunlap death unchanged," by Allison Sylte.
Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper addressed a controversial CNN interview Tuesday during an interview with 9NEWS Anchor Gary Shapiro.
In the as-of-yet unaired CNN interview, which will be part of a special series on death penalty cases, Hickenlooper said he could decide to grant "full clemency" to death row inmate Nathan Dunlap before he leaves office if he's not reelected.
Hickenlooper told Shapiro that despite these comments, he has "no intention" to revisit the decision he made in May 2013 giving Dunlap a temporary reprieve.
"You know, Nathan Dunlap's gonna die in prison, one way or the other," Hickenlooper said. "You know, I personally am against the death penalty. I don't think the government should be taking people's lives, but a number of other people disagree. That was why we did a reprieve: to respect that sentiment within the state."
Earlier coverage from Colorado begins at the link.
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