Gov. Edwards publicly calls for an end to Louisiana’s death penalty as legislative session begins

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – Gov. John Bel Edwards for the primary time is for an finish to the loss of life penalty in Louisiana. Edwards took his public stance throughout his ultimate State of the State deal with on Monday, April 10.

“For the primary time, I’m calling on the legislature to finish the loss of life penalty,” Edwards stated.

Louisiana is one in every of 27 states the place the loss of life penalty nonetheless exists.

Rep. Kyle Inexperienced from Jefferson Parish filed a invoice earlier than the state of the common legislative session that may abolish capital punishment, regardless of receiving pushback over time.

“I believe it’s inconsistent with our values of being a Professional-Life state. On one hand, we are saying we help essentially the most harmless life, and all lives needs to be protected, however we’re perpetuating a tradition of loss of life,” Inexperienced stated.

Inexperienced and those that agree with him have argued that it’s too costly, tough to hold out, ineffective at deterring crime, and a waste of taxpayer {dollars}.

He additionally famous a current variety of exonerations and sentence reversals that led to individuals getting off loss of life row earlier than going through execution.

Nonetheless, opponents to related payments prior to now have steered that it ought to stay an choice for prosecutors and judges to make use of. In 2022, one prosecutor stated it’s essential to maintain the loss of life penalty in place to allow them to communicate on behalf of victims which might be not right here.

“Can’t be right here at the moment as a result of they slaughtered, murdered, shot, dumped in swamps, dumped in ditches…they will’t be right here. What in the event that they may very well be right here, what would they are saying concerning the loss of life penalty? They could have a special perspective,” stated John Sinquefield, a prosecutor who testified in opposition.

Regardless of the Governor’s current help, it nonetheless has a protracted method to go earlier than it might probably attain his desk.

The proposal has failed to achieve sufficient help over time, however some lawmakers stay cautiously optimistic.

“Traditionally the loss of life penalty has all the time been used as one thing that may promote concern, hopefully with the intent to detour crime, but it surely’s by no means executed that,” stated Rep. Royce Duplessis. “My philosophy not solely applies to the loss of life penalty, however to all methods through which we cease crime, which is stopping it on the entrance finish. Extra leisure alternatives, extra investing in individuals, and pondering we are able to scare individuals out of committing crime. It merely doesn’t work.”

Click on right here to report a typo.

Copyright 2022 WAFB. All rights reserved.