Opening Statement

Opposing the usage of the Death penalty

Historically, the death penalty has been used to put down “heinous criminals” that have committed crimes against the laws and Constitution of the United States of America. Since the 1970s, 1538 men and women and counting have been executed in the United States. Historically, the death penalty has been used disproportionately against Black and Brown individuals compared to their Caucasian counterparts. In some cases, the criminal on death row is falsely convicted of a crime and is given a cruel punishment. Currently, the death penalty is legal in 24 states in the United States, and there are three more states that have a governor-imposed moratorium. There are many heinous ways to kill, such as the electric chair and the lethal injection. This method is not necessary to correct or deter crime. The way to prevent crime would be reform and other programs. There is also a $900,000+ bill per execution. How many more innocent lives need to be taken away for a change to be made? How much is a human life worth? According to some states it is a few thousand dollars. Most states average $25,000 to $30,000 per incarcerated individual annually. To combat these injustices, I propose the Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act of 2021- which would outlaw the death penalty.

Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act of 2021

Senator Richard “Dick” Durbin

Purpose

Although there are many states that do not use the death penalty and others that have halted them, this barbaric form of “justice” is still being used around the country. However, there are presidential pardons, but they are given out rarely. An innocent person’s life should not be at the mercy of someone else. This judgement has racist roots and discriminatory practices that must be put to rest. The people need to be protected and assured that they do not need to fear a sanctioned murder by their government.

Section I

Defining of Terms

“government”- the protecting body but also the sentencer and executioner of criminals

“governor-imposed moratorium”- the temporary suspension of executions and death sentences. It depends on the mercy of an important government figure.

“pardon”- the cancellation of a death row inmate’s execution

Section II

Defining the Law

This bill would make it illegal for states and judges to put inmates on death row for them to be executed. This will remove this option of sentencing from judges completely for all future cases. This would make it important for all individuals on death row to be removed immediately and put into a reform correctional facility where they can be evaluated and eventually become members of our society again.

Section III

Defining the penalty of Violation of the Law

Judges who sentence a convicted individual to the death penalty will have their license revoked indefinitely and 5 years of federal prison. The politicians who sanction a death penalty will be imprisoned for 10 years without parole.

Section IV

Determining When the Law Goes into Effect

The law would go into effect at 12:00 AM on the 1^st day of the first month (January) of the year 2022