The following comes from the Bishop’s Task Force on the Death Penalty:
Our state Senate is poised to repeal the death penalty, replacing it with life without parole. This Thursday, the Senate’s Law & Justice Committee approved sending Senate Bill 6052 to the whole Senate, a historic moment as it is first time since the death penalty went into effect in 1981 that an abolition bill has cleared a “gatekeeping” committee.
At its 2015 General Convention, the Episcopal Church reaffirmed its opposition to the death penalty, citing in part that “the death penalty is disproportionately applied to the poor and to minorities and is in direct opposition to the witness of Jesus.” The convention also encouraged local dioceses to appoint task forces to develop a witness to eliminate the death penalty. The Diocese of Olympia has such a task force.
Dave Avolio, diocesan task force chair, attended the committee hearing, and presented a letter from Bishop Greg Rickel affirming the Church’s position: “There is not a shred of evidence that the death penalty deters crime. There is ample evidence that it is misapplied and has resulted in the death of innocent people. When will we decide that the risk is indeed too great? It is indeed ironic that the very thing we believe will vindicate murder leads us to commit that very crime.”
While there is some optimism that Bill 6052 will pass in the full Senate, it is important that we in the diocese, and others, now urge our legislators to support repealing the death penalty statue, replacing it with life without parole, and moving courageously beyond just the current moratorium.
To contact your legislators, use the email formula firstname.lastname@leg.wa.gov, or use the Legislative Hotline: 1-800-562-6000 between 8 AM and 8 PM, Monday through Friday. Click here to send a message to your three legislators.
If you are not sure who are your legislators (senator and two representatives) click here.
Please act now to witness for the elimination of the death penalty in our state.
Bishop’s Task Force on the Death Penalty
Dave Avolio, chair
Val Brustad
The Rev. Canon Mike Jackson
The Hon. Dale Ramerman
The Rev. Jessie Smith
