"Executions wrong direction for Tennessee," an OpEd by Fran Rajotte for the Tennessean. She's chair of Caritas: Voices for Peace Life and Creation, a ministry of St. Matthew Church in Nashville.
As the summer comes to a close and fall begins, I have become even more concerned about the string of executions Tennessee is planning over the next couple of years, beginning in October.
Why is Tennessee, a state that has only executed six people since 1960, moving in this direction? With public support of the death penalty at a 40-year low and with more and more voices speaking out against the death penalty, it seems that Tennessee is out of step. Eighteen states no longer have the death penalty, and states including Delaware and New Hampshire are getting closer to repeal. Even Colorado’s governor recently stated that he now opposes the death penalty.
This growing support for repeal comes as those most impacted by this broken system are raising concerns. A growing number of victims’ family members do not believe that the death penalty provides swift or sure justice, and in fact, keeps them stuck in a moment in time, not addressing their ongoing needs.
Earlier coverage from Tennessee begins at the link.
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