On February 11, 2014, Washington state Governor Jay Inslee declared a moratorium on the death penalty, citing its unequal application as the reason. It’s an interesting position for him to take when there are only nine inmates on death row in Washington. In comparison, we have 138 inmates on death row in Ohio. While cost is the focus of my drive to end the death penalty, what Governor Inslee has done helps create additional, welcomed momentum.
Republican leadership opposes the moratorium, but I’m willing to bet that few legislators know what capital punishment is costing their state.
According to Reuters, about 60 percent of Americans support the death penalty. That’s the lowest level of support for the death penalty Gallup has measured since November 1972, when 57 percent were in favor. Support peaked at 80 percent in 1994. As more Americans learn about the immense time, effort and cost we sink into capital cases, the lower that level of support will go.
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