| Conservatives are defined in a variety of ways. Typically the definition includes less government, fewer entitlement programs, a balanced budget, a strong national defense and a rigid dedication to the US Constitution. Many also think someone who identifies himself as a conservative must be in favor of the death penalty, but ever growing numbers of conservatives are becoming uneasy with government executions. |  |
The state of Nebraska, a conservative heartland state dripping in traditional American values, is on the verge of repealing the death penalty. The Nebraska legislature approved the repeal on a 30-16 vote and has one more procedural vote before the bill makes its way to the Governors desk. For his part, Governor Pete Ricketts has vowed to veto the measure. The 30 votes however, is enough to override his veto.
Nebraska isn’t the first state to repeal the death penalty. Delaware did it in 2013. The difference is the Nebraska legislature is ruled by conservatives. You would have to go all the way back to 1973 to find the last time a conservative state (ND) repealed the death penalty.
The question stumping some is why conservatives are now opposing the death penalty. When one looks at the long-time talking points of self described conservatives however, it’s not difficult to understand.
Conservatives champion the issue of fiscal responsibility. With endless appeals, DNA tests and lawsuits over “humane” ways to kill, it is statistically far more expensive to execute a convicted killer than it is to incarcerate him or her for life.
Social conservatives like to describe themselves as Pro Life. That’s a tough moniker to live up to if you are pounding the drum in favor of killing another human, no matter what the reason or rationale.
Conservatives also trumpet the concept of less government. The simple fact is taking someone from the courtroom to the prison system and monitoring them, even for decades, requires far less government than the long, drawn out process of execution.
Perhaps most important is the issue of wrongful conviction. While many high profile cases like the Boston Marathon bomber seem to have clear evidence, the simple fact is that mistaken convictions occur in our penal system. If even one human is falsely convicted and in turn executed, it’s one too many. The only way to completely assure that never happens is to abolish the death penalty.
Our animal instinct sometimes leads us to demand death in the name of “justice”. Ironically that is the same logic used by radical Islam and others that routinely kill and then attempt to justify it.
Nebraska has it right. You can be conservative and not support the death penalty. In fact, it may be difficult to argue otherwise.
Nebraska isn’t the first state to repeal the death penalty. Delaware did it in 2013. The difference is the Nebraska legislature is ruled by conservatives. You would have to go all the way back to 1973 to find the last time a conservative state (ND) repealed the death penalty.
The question stumping some is why conservatives are now opposing the death penalty. When one looks at the long-time talking points of self described conservatives however, it’s not difficult to understand.
Conservatives champion the issue of fiscal responsibility. With endless appeals, DNA tests and lawsuits over “humane” ways to kill, it is statistically far more expensive to execute a convicted killer than it is to incarcerate him or her for life.
Social conservatives like to describe themselves as Pro Life. That’s a tough moniker to live up to if you are pounding the drum in favor of killing another human, no matter what the reason or rationale.
Conservatives also trumpet the concept of less government. The simple fact is taking someone from the courtroom to the prison system and monitoring them, even for decades, requires far less government than the long, drawn out process of execution.
Perhaps most important is the issue of wrongful conviction. While many high profile cases like the Boston Marathon bomber seem to have clear evidence, the simple fact is that mistaken convictions occur in our penal system. If even one human is falsely convicted and in turn executed, it’s one too many. The only way to completely assure that never happens is to abolish the death penalty.
Our animal instinct sometimes leads us to demand death in the name of “justice”. Ironically that is the same logic used by radical Islam and others that routinely kill and then attempt to justify it.
Nebraska has it right. You can be conservative and not support the death penalty. In fact, it may be difficult to argue otherwise.
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