We fully endorse the passage of House Bill 70 and House Bill 301, two pieces of legislation currently under consideration in Delaware. HB 70 seeks to repeal the death penalty in Delaware, while HB 301 is an amendment to the Delaware Constitution prohibiting execution as a form of punishment.
The death penalty is an inefficient use of resources. Numerous studies done on the subject have consistently shown that the costs of litigating the death penalty far exceed those of life sentences. We also know that the death penalty is not applied equitably and is marked by biases and discrimination, often used against minorities and marginalized communities. Also, the data show that there is a disparity in its application, with a much larger number of cases involving white victims than Black ones, despite the fact that half of murder victims in the U.S. are Black.
Further, the death penalty doesn’t deter crime. Crime rates when places abolish the death penalty decline, not rise.
The death penalty doesn’t achieve justice for victims’ families. Instead, it perpetuates the same cycle of violence it purports to end. Many victims’ families have spoken out on this issue and support abolition. Life sentences in lieu of capital punishment also allow for innocent people to be exonerated when wrongfully convicted.
The passing of HB 70 and HB 301 is both a legislative issue and a moral one. The majority of Delawareans support abolishing the death penalty. Please call your legislator and urge them to support these bills!
-
A letter to the editor expresses a reader's opinion and, as such, is not reflective of the editorial opinions of this newspaper.
To submit a letter to the editor for publishing, send an email to viewpoints@capegazette.com. All letters are considered at the discretion of the newsroom and published as space allows. Due to the large volume of submissions, we cannot acknowledge receipt of each submission. Letters must include a phone number and address for verification. Keep letters to 400 words or fewer. We reserve the right to edit for content or length. Letters should be responsive to issues addressed in the Cape Gazette rather than content from other publications or media. Letters should focus on local issues, not national topics or personalities. Only one letter per author will be published every 30 days regarding a particular topic. Authors may submit a second letter within that time period if it pertains to a different issue. Letters may not be critical of personalities or specific businesses. Criticism of public figures is permissible. Endorsement letters for political candidates are no longer accepted. Letters must be the author’s original work, and may not be generated by artificial intelligence tools. Templates, form letters and letters containing language similar to other submissions will not be published.
