Gavin Newsom on Death Penalty: (Crime Jan 12, 2021)
Moratorium on death penalty; disassembled death chamber

Newsom's executive order did not abolish the death penalty. Nor did it empty death row. A constitutional amendment making it the law and approved by voters in 1972 remains in place, though it is like a zombie. As of this writing, California has 691 condemned men, and 20 condemned women. Their sentences are in limbo. None will die at the hands of the state so long as Newsom is Governor.

Joe Biden on Death Penalty: (Drugs Oct 22, 2020)
Trump is for more in jail; I am for drug rehab, not jail

BIDEN: This is a guy who said, "The problem with the crime bill, there's not enough people in jail." This is a guy who in the Central Park Five, five innocent black kids, he continued to push for the death penalty [referring to a 1989 case in which Trump took out a full-page newspaper ad calling for punishment]. He commuted 20 people's sentences. We commuted over 1,000 sentences. The federal prison system was reduced by 38,000 people under our administration. I'm offering $20 billion to states to change their laws to eliminate minimum mandatories and set up drug courts. No one should be going to jail because they have a drug problem. They should be going to rehabilitation, not to jail.

TRUMP: He's been in government 47 years, he never did a thing, except in 1994, when he did such harm to the Black community, and he called them super predators. Criminal justice reform, Obama and Joe didn't do it. If you had to see the arms I had to twist to get that done.

Amy Coney Barrett on Death Penalty: (Abortion Sep 22, 2020)
Life begins at conception

Joe Biden on Death Penalty: (Foreign Policy Oct 10, 2019)
US should promote LGBTQ rights worldwide; stop aid if needed

BIDEN: In my State Department, we will have a special office that's devoted directly to promoting LGBTQ rights around the world. I would curtail aid to countries that engage in that kind of behavior.

Q: Saudi Arabia?

BIDEN: Saudi Arabia, same thing.

Kamala Harris on Death Penalty: (Crime Jul 31, 2019)
I chose the unpopular thing to NOT seek the death penalty

[Is that true? FactCheck by Vox.com:]

In 2004, as district attorney of San Francisco, she refused to seek the death penalty against a man convicted of shooting police officer Isaac Espinoza. She faced opposition from fellow Democrats; Sen. Dianne Feinstein called for the death penalty at the officer's funeral. But Harris didn't budge--an act of principle that cost her key political allies (as she received almost no support from police groups during her first run for attorney general in 2010).

Justin Amash on Death Penalty: (Crime Jul 29, 2019)
Introduced legislation to end federal death penalty

Tim Ryan on Death Penalty: (Crime Jul 17, 2019)
Moratorium on the death penalty--for now

No candidates have similar views. Rep. Tim Ryan said he would support a moratorium on the death penalty because the punishment is being "unfairly applied" to American citizens in its current form.

Pete Buttigieg on Death Penalty: (Crime Jul 17, 2019)
Abolish capital punishment

13 CANDIDATES HAVE SIMILAR VIEWS: Cory Booker; Julian Castro; Bill de Blasio; John Delaney; Tulsi Gabbard; Kirsten Gillibrand; John Hickenlooper; Amy Klobuchar; Beto O`Rourke; Bernard Sanders; Eric Swalwell; Elizabeth Warren; Andrew Yang.

Candidates who have called for abolishing capital punishment altogether say inmates sentenced to death should have their sentences commuted to life without parole.

Eric Swalwell on Death Penalty: (Crime Jul 17, 2019)
Abolish capital punishment

13 CANDIDATES HAVE SIMILAR VIEWS: Cory Booker; Peter Buttigieg; Julian Castro; Bill de Blasio; John Delaney; Tulsi Gabbard; Kirsten Gillibrand; John Hickenlooper; Amy Klobuchar; Beto O`Rourke; Bernard Sanders; Elizabeth Warren; Andrew Yang.

Candidates who have called for abolishing capital punishment altogether say inmates sentenced to death should have their sentences commuted to life without parole.

Bill de Blasio on Death Penalty: (Crime Jul 17, 2019)
Abolish capital punishment

13 CANDIDATES HAVE SIMILAR VIEWS: Cory Booker; Peter Buttigieg; Julian Castro; John Delaney; Tulsi Gabbard; Kirsten Gillibrand; John Hickenlooper; Amy Klobuchar; Beto O`Rourke; Bernard Sanders; Eric Swalwell; Elizabeth Warren; Andrew Yang.

Candidates who have called for abolishing capital punishment altogether say inmates sentenced to death should have their sentences commuted to life without parole.

Julian Castro on Death Penalty: (Crime Jul 17, 2019)
Abolish capital punishment

13 CANDIDATES HAVE SIMILAR VIEWS: Cory Booker; Peter Buttigieg; Bill de Blasio; John Delaney; Tulsi Gabbard; Kirsten Gillibrand; John Hickenlooper; Amy Klobuchar; Beto O`Rourke; Bernard Sanders; Eric Swalwell; Elizabeth Warren; Andrew Yang.

Candidates who have called for abolishing capital punishment altogether say inmates sentenced to death should have their sentences commuted to life without parole.

Kirsten Gillibrand on Death Penalty: (Crime Jul 17, 2019)
Abolish capital punishment

13 CANDIDATES HAVE SIMILAR VIEWS: Cory Booker; Peter Buttigieg; Julian Castro; Bill de Blasio; John Delaney; Tulsi Gabbard; John Hickenlooper; Amy Klobuchar; Beto O`Rourke; Bernard Sanders; Eric Swalwell; Elizabeth Warren; Andrew Yang.

Candidates who have called for abolishing capital punishment altogether say inmates sentenced to death should have their sentences commuted to life without parole.

Tulsi Gabbard on Death Penalty: (Crime Jul 17, 2019)
Abolish capital punishment

13 CANDIDATES HAVE SIMILAR VIEWS: Cory Booker; Peter Buttigieg; Julian Castro; Bill de Blasio; John Delaney; Kirsten Gillibrand; John Hickenlooper; Amy Klobuchar; Beto O`Rourke; Bernard Sanders; Eric Swalwell; Elizabeth Warren; Andrew Yang.

Candidates who have called for abolishing capital punishment altogether say inmates sentenced to death should have their sentences commuted to life without parole.

Amy Klobuchar on Death Penalty: (Crime Jul 17, 2019)
Abolish capital punishment

13 CANDIDATES HAVE SIMILAR VIEWS: Cory Booker; Peter Buttigieg; Julian Castro; Bill de Blasio; John Delaney; Tulsi Gabbard; Kirsten Gillibrand; John Hickenlooper; Beto O`Rourke; Bernard Sanders; Eric Swalwell; Elizabeth Warren; Andrew Yang.

Candidates who have called for abolishing capital punishment altogether say inmates sentenced to death should have their sentences commuted to life without parole.

Pete Buttigieg on Death Penalty: (Crime Jul 11, 2019)
Supports constitutional ban on death penalty

Pete Buttigieg on Death Penalty: (Government Reform Jul 11, 2019)
Amendments among "most elegant features" of Constitution

Donald Trump on Death Penalty: (Crime Jul 2, 2019)
Think of the VICTIMS and keep the death penalty

Proposition 62, Repeal of the Death Penalty, was on the Nov. 8, 2016, ballot in California as an initiated state statute. It was defeated.
• A "yes" vote supported repealing the death penalty and making life without the possibility of parole the maximum punishment for murder.
• A "no" vote opposed this measure repealing the death penalty.
• On March 13, 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed an executive order placing a moratorium on the death penalty. He said, "The intentional killing of another person is wrong and as Governor, I will not oversee the execution of any individual. Our death penalty system has been, by all measures, a failure. It has provided no value as a deterrent."
• President Donald Trump (R) responded to Gov. Newsom's executive order, saying, "Defying voters, the Governor of California will halt all death penalty executions of 737 stone cold killers. Friends and families of the always forgotten VICTIMS are not thrilled, and neither am I!"

Tom Steyer on Death Penalty: (Crime Jul 2, 2019)
Repeal the California death penalty

Report on Steyer's stance and spending on ballot initiatives:
• California Proposition 62, Repeal of the Death Penalty (2016)
• Steyer Supported; Steyer spent $1.75 million; outcome: Defeated
• California Proposition 62 was on the November 8, 2016, ballot in California as an initiated state statute. It was defeated.
• A "yes" vote supported repealing the death penalty and making life without the possibility of parole the maximum punishment for murder.
• A "no" vote opposed this measure repealing the death penalty.
• On March 13, 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed an executive order placing a moratorium on the death penalty.
• President Donald Trump responded to Gov. Newsom's executive order, saying, "Defying voters, the Governor of California will halt all death penalty executions of 737 stone cold killers. Friends and families of the always forgotten VICTIMS are not thrilled, and neither am I!"

Joe Biden on Death Penalty: (Crime Jun 20, 2019)
1992: pro-death penalty; 2019: congrats on ending it

But in a little-noticed remark earlier this month in New Hampshire, Biden seemed to offer a decidedly different stance on the death penalty.

Fielding a question from a voter aligned with the ACLU about how he'd reduce the federal prison population, Biden gave a long and winding answer: He defended his crime bill, advocated for reforms to the criminal justice system involving nonviolent and drug offenders, and said he was proud of his work with Barack Obama to cut the federal prison population by 3,800.

Then, unprompted, Biden added: "By the way, congratulations to ya'll ending the death penalty here." Biden's campaign would not comment on his answer, or shed light on whether he's changed his position on the death penalty.

Seth Moulton on Death Penalty: (Crime Jun 18, 2019)
Death penalty not worth risk of killing one innocent person

A: "One innocent person put to death is not worth it."

Steve Bullock on Death Penalty: (Crime Jun 18, 2019)
Keep death penalty for circumstances like terrorism

Q: Do you support or oppose the death penalty?

A: "I wouldn't take it off the table for the most extreme circumstances, like terrorism."

Marianne Williamson on Death Penalty: (Crime Jun 18, 2019)
I oppose the death penalty

A: "I oppose the death penalty."

Andrew Yang on Death Penalty: (Crime Jun 18, 2019)
Death penalty has led to tragic errors

A: "We've made tragic errors in our past and likely will continue to do so."

Kamala Harris on Death Penalty: (Crime May 7, 2019)
Moratorium on death penalty; but defended it as AG

John Delaney on Death Penalty: (Crime May 2, 2019)
End cash bail; end mandatory minimums; end death penalty

• End or limit the use of money bail in the federal criminal justice system and encourage states to pursue similar reforms. Cash bail is excessive, discriminatory, and costly for taxpayers and communities
• End for-profit prisons
• Eliminate mandatory minimum sentences
• Increase funding for public defenders
• End the death penalty
• Increase funding for police body cameras
• Promote "ban the box" policies
• Provide federal funding for training and support of police officers designed to prevent racial profiling and generally encourage de-escalation
• Reemphasize Obama era DOJ oversight authorities of law enforcement practices that demonstrate a pattern of abuse or misconduct

Mike Gravel on Death Penalty: (Crime Apr 9, 2019)
No one deserves to be put to death by the state

Pete Buttigieg on Death Penalty: (Crime Mar 27, 2019)
Death penalty is racist; mandatory minimums too

John Hickenlooper on Death Penalty: (Crime Mar 20, 2019)
Suspend death penalty; it's too random & doesn't deter

Beto O`Rourke on Death Penalty: (Crime Mar 20, 2019)
Expand death penalty if police officers are attacked

Kamala Harris on Death Penalty: (Crime Mar 14, 2019)
Federal and state moratorium on death penalty

Harris was asked if there should be "a federal equivalent" to Newsom's order. She said, "Yes, I think that there should be."

Asked if no one would be executed if Harris was president, she responded, "Correct, correct."

As California's attorney general, Harris defended the state's use of the death penalty. But in a statement this week, she said it is "immoral, discriminatory, ineffective, and a gross misuse of taxpayer dollars." She noted that black and Latino defendants were more likely to be executed than white defendants, as were poor defendants with poor legal representation versus wealthier defendants with good legal representation.

Beto O`Rourke on Death Penalty: (Crime Mar 14, 2019)
Capital punishment is an inequitable, unfair, unjust system

Kamala Harris on Death Penalty: (Crime Mar 14, 2019)
2004: no death penalty for cop killer; 2019: apply to all

As Harris launched her presidential bid, she said she was running as a "progressive prosecutor." But she has drawn scrutiny from some liberals for "tough on crime" positions she held as a California prosecutor, with her stance on the death penalty among those issues.

As a district attorney in 2004, she drew national headlines with her decision not to seek the death penalty for the killer of a San Francisco police officer. That decision, announced days after the officer's death, enraged local law enforcement officials

However, a decade later, she appealed a judge's decision declaring California's death penalty law unconstitutional. While Harris has personally opposed the death penalty, she has said that she defended the law as a matter of professional obligation.

Kamala Harris on Death Penalty: (Crime Mar 14, 2019)
No on capital punishment, but justice for murderers

Gavin Newsom on Death Penalty: (Crime Mar 13, 2019)
Moratorium on the California death penalty

Proposition 62, Repeal of the Death Penalty, was on the Nov. 8, 2016, ballot in California as an initiated state statute. It was defeated.
• A "yes" vote supported repealing the death penalty and making life without the possibility of parole the maximum punishment for murder.
• A "no" vote opposed this measure repealing the death penalty.
• On March 13, 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed an executive order placing a moratorium on the death penalty. He said, "The intentional killing of another person is wrong and as Governor, I will not oversee the execution of any individual. Our death penalty system has been, by all measures, a failure. It has discriminated against defendants who are mentally ill, black and brown, or can't afford expensive legal representation. It has provided no public safety benefit or value as a deterrent. It has wasted billions of taxpayer dollars. Most of all, the death penalty is absolute. It's irreversible and irreparable in the event of human error."

Gavin Newsom on Death Penalty: (Crime Mar 12, 2019)
Death penalty is ineffective, irreversible and immoral

His action comes three years after California voters rejected an initiative to end the death penalty, instead passing a measure to speed up executions. Newsom said the death penalty system has discriminated against mentally ill defendants and people of color, has not made the state safer and has wasted billions of taxpayer dollars. "You, as taxpayers--you have spent $5 billion since we reinstated the death penalty in this state," he said. "What have we gotten for that?"

But he made clear that he simply believes killing other people is wrong. "If you rape, we don't rape," he said. "I think if someone kills, we don't kill.

Donald Trump on Death Penalty: (Crime Mar 12, 2019)
Keep death penalty; don't forget the victims

The tweet comes as Newsom signs an executive order that would halt all executions at San Quentin State Prison, closing a new execution chamber. Newsom's order will go against the wishes of California voters, who in 2016 backed a measure to speed up executions.

Meanwhile, Trump has been a supporter of the death penalty. In October, Trump called for the death penalty for those who kill police officers. "Reducing crime begins with respecting law enforcement," Trump said. "We believe that criminals who kill our police officers should immediately, with trial, but rapidly as possible, not 15 years later, 20 years later--get the death penalty."

Gavin Newsom on Death Penalty: (Crime Mar 12, 2019)
2016: Respect state referendum on death penalty; 2019: Don't

Newsom said that before he took office, discussing the death penalty was an "intellectual" exercise. Now that he has the power to allow executions, he said, it's an emotional decision: he can't be party to the system and still sleep at night. "It's not an abstract question any longer," he said. "I cannot sign off on executing hundreds of human beings."

The moratorium will be in place for the duration of Newsom's time in office. After that, a future governor could decide to resume executions. He told reporters last month that the prospect of executions resuming has been weighing on him.

Kamala Harris on Death Penalty: (Crime Jan 8, 2019)
2010: Ran for A.G. as anti-death-penalty D.A.

Donald Trump on Death Penalty: (Drugs Mar 19, 2018)
Execute drug dealers to fight opioid epidemic

Trump unveiled an anti-opioid abuse plan, including his death penalty recommendation, new funding for other initiatives and stiffer sentencing laws for drug dealers. He said the US must "get tough" on opioids. "And that toughness includes the death penalty," he said. Neither Trump nor the White House gave further details as to when it would be appropriate to seek the death penalty.

Trump said that he was working with Congress to find $6 billion in new funding to fight the opioid crisis. The plan will also seek to cut opioid prescriptions by a third over 3 years by changing federal programs, he said.

Addiction to opioids--mainly prescription painkillers, heroin and fentanyl--is a growing problem, especially in rural areas. 42,000 people died from opioid overdoses in 2016.

Donald Trump on Death Penalty: (Drugs Mar 11, 2018)
Death penalty for drug dealers

(VIDEO CLIP): TRUMP: When I was in China and other places, I said, "Mr. President, do you have a drug problem?" "No, no, no, we do not." I said, "huh, big country, 1.4 billion people, right? Not much a drug problem." I said, "What do you attribute that to?" "Well, the death penalty." So, honestly, I don't know that the United States, frankly, is ready for it. They should be ready for it.

(END VIDEO) Q: Now, the death penalty for drug dealers, is that something that you agree with? And should we be following China's lead when it comes to criminal justice?

Sen. Ron JOHNSON (R-WI): I would say we probably should not be following China's lead when it comes to criminal justice. I'm a supporter of the death penalty, but only where we absolutely are 100% certain that the person is 100% guilty. I'm not sure it would be applicable to drug offenses.

Donald Trump on Death Penalty: (Crime Feb 3, 2018)
Civil liberties end when an attack on our safety begins

"Mayor Koch has stated that hate and rancor should be removed from our hearts. I do not think so. I want to hate these muggers and murderers. They should be forced to suffer. Yes, Mayor Koch, I want to hate these murderers and I always will. How can our great society tolerate the continued brutalization of its citizens by crazed misfits? Criminals must be told that their CIVIL LIBERTIES END WHEN AN ATTACK ON OUR SAFET BEGINS!

Jay Inslee on Death Penalty: (Crime Jan 9, 2018)
End the death penalty

John Kasich on Death Penalty: (Crime Sep 24, 2017)
FactCheck: Catholic faith does NOT support death penalty

No. Pope Francis, the world leader of the Catholic faith, said unambiguously in his address to the US Congress on Sept. 24, 2015, that "the golden rule reminds us of our responsibility to protect and defend human life at every stage of its development. This conviction has led me, from the beginning of my ministry, to advocate at different levels for the global abolition of the death penalty. I am convinced that this way is the best, since every life is sacred. Society can only benefit from the rehabilitation of those convicted of crimes. Recently my brother bishops here in the United States renewed their call for the abolition of the death penalty."

Kasich can say he supports the death penalty, but he cannot accurately say that doing so is consistent with his Catholic faith.

Kamala Harris on Death Penalty: (Crime Aug 10, 2017)
Defied pressure for death penalty for cop killer

Gavin Newsom on Death Penalty: (Crime Apr 4, 2017)
Criminal justice reform is crucial; repeal death penalty

Bernie Sanders on Death Penalty: (Crime Nov 15, 2016)
End the death penalty, like all other advanced countries

Donald Trump on Death Penalty: (Crime Aug 23, 2016)
Settling Central Park jogger case was "a disgrace"

The female jogger would survive the brutal beating but the young men were convicted and served 6 to 13 years in prison. But years later, a career criminal confessed to the rape, providing a DNA match. The convictions were overturned, and the city paid $41 million to settle a wrongful imprisonment suit that the men had filed. Trump called the settlement "a disgrace," refused to apologize, and said, "These young men do not exactly have the pasts of angels." He said he wouldn't have given them "a dime" and insisted "they owe the taxpayers an apology for taking money out of their pockets."

Bernie Sanders on Death Penalty: (Crime Jul 9, 2016)
End mass incarceration & reform criminal justice

• Abolishing the death penalty, ending mass incarceration, and enacting major criminal justice reforms;
• Establishing a path toward the legalization of marijuana;
• Ending disastrous deportation raids, banning private prisons and detention centers, and passing comprehensive immigration reform.

John Hickenlooper on Death Penalty: (Crime May 24, 2016)
Changed mind on death penalty, to oppose it as governor

Well, first I was for it. But now I am against it. Some of my detractors have criticized me for saying what I wrote right there.

My views on capital punishment changed as that third legislative session was drawing to a close, when I had to decide whether or not I was going to allow the state to carry out a mass murderer's death sentence. [He decided on an Executive Order to not use the death penalty during his gubernatorial term]. My reasons for not wanting that bill to abolish the death penalty to pass were tied to my thinking about what I would do with that order.

Bernie Sanders on Death Penalty: (Crime Mar 6, 2016)
Crime bill had good parts (VAWA) & bad parts (death penalty)

CLINTON: Well, Senator Sanders voted for it as well; will you ask him too? Some aspects--the violence against women [VAWA] provisions--have worked well. But, other aspects of it were a mistake.

SANDERS: As we all know, there are bills in congress that have bad stuff--Good stuff and bad stuff in the same bill. Now, if I have voted against that bill, Clinton would say, "Bernie voted against the ban on assault weapons. Bernie voted against the violence against women act." Those were good provisions in the bill. Violence against women act has protected millions of women in this country, it was in that bill. The ban on assault weapons, that's what I have fought for my whole life. It was in that bill. I tried to get the death penalty aspects in that bill out. Clinton have a disagreement. I was then, and I am now opposed to the death penalty.

Bernie Sanders on Death Penalty: (Crime Feb 4, 2016)
Government should not be part of the death penalty

CLINTON: I do reserve it for particularly heinous crimes, like terrorism. I thought it was appropriate after a very thorough trial that Timothy McVeigh received the death penalty for blowing up the Federal Building in Oklahoma City.

SANDERS: It's hard to imagine how people can bomb and kill 168 people in Oklahoma City, but this is what I believe: #1, too many innocent people, including minorities, African Americans, have been executed when they were not guilty. We have to be very careful about making sure about that. But #2, of course there are barbaric acts out there. But, in a world of so much violence and killing, I just don't believe that government itself should be part of the killing. So, when somebody commits any of these terrible crimes that we have seen, you lock them up, and you toss away the key. They're never going to get out. But, I just don't want to see government be part of killing.

Hillary Clinton on Death Penalty: (Crime Feb 4, 2016)
Death penalty appropriate for Oklahoma City bombing

CLINTON: What I hope the Supreme Court will do is make it absolutely clear that any state that continues capital punishment must meet the highest standards of evidentiary proof of effective assistance of counsel. I have much more confidence in the federal system, and I do reserve it for particularly heinous crimes in the federal system, like terrorism. I thought it was appropriate after a very thorough trial that Timothy McVeigh received the death penalty for blowing up the Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people, including 19 children in a daycare center.

SANDERS: When somebody commits any of these terrible crimes [like in Oklahoma City], you lock them up, and you toss away the key. They're never going to get out. But, I just don't want to see government be part of killing.

Hillary Clinton on Death Penalty: (Principles & Values Feb 4, 2016)
I am a progressive who gets things done

CLINTON: Because I am a progressive who gets things done. The root of that word, progressive, is progress. I've heard Senator Sanders' comments, and it's caused me to wonder who's left in the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. Under his definition, President Obama is not progressive because he took donations from Wall Street; Vice President Biden is not progressive because he supported Keystone; Senator Shaheen is not progressive because she supports the trade pact.

Hillary Clinton on Death Penalty: (Principles & Values Jan 30, 2016)
Disagrees with Bernie on crime, drugs & foreign intervention

• Faith: Hillary would work with faith-based organizations on many fronts; Bernie focuses on church-state separation.
• Crime: Hillary supports the death penalty; Bernie focuses on "Black Lives Matter."
• Drugs: Hillary supports medical marijuana legalization; Bernie supports more than that, and considers the War on Drugs to be a major source of systemic racism. Hillary started using the term "systemic racism" in response to Bernie's use of the term.
• Foreign intervention: Hillary is interventionist while Bernie would stay out of many hotspots. This is the strongest difference between the two candidates: Hillary is much more hawkish than Bernie (but still dovish compared to Republicans).

Pope Francis on Death Penalty: (Crime Sep 24, 2015)
Global abolition of the death penalty

I am convinced that this way is the best, since every life is sacred. Every human person is endowed with an inalienable dignity, and society can only benefit from the rehabilitation of those convicted of crimes. Recently my brother bishops here in the United States renewed their call for the abolition of the death penalty.

Not only do I support them, but I also offer encouragement to all those who are convinced that a just and necessary punishment must never exclude the dimension of hope and the goal of rehabilitation.

Pope Francis on Death Penalty: (Crime Sep 24, 2015)
Abolish the death penalty; it precludes rehabilitation

"I am convinced that this way is the best," Francis said. "Since every life is sacred, every human person is endowed with an inalienable dignity, and society can only benefit from the rehabilitation of those convicted of crimes."

Donald Trump on Death Penalty: (Crime Sep 22, 2015)
1989 full-page newspaper ads: "Bring Back the Death Penalty"

Although he avoided naming the accused in the jogger case, Trump's reference to "roving bands of wild criminals" left no doubt about why he had paid for the ads. Newspaper accounts had described "wolf pack" gangs marauding in the park.

Ted Cruz on Death Penalty: (Crime Jun 30, 2015)
In death penalty cases, describe brutal nature of crime

I would make a point of doing something the liberal clerks who opposed capital punishment rarely did-- simply describing the brutal nature of the crime for which the defendant had been convicted. The appeal would go to the full Court for a vote. Each of the other eight clerks would call their justices at home, wake them up, and then the justices would each vote on the appeal that night.

I still don't understand why the justices tolerate this gamesmanship, which diminishes respect for the rule of law.

Ted Cruz on Death Penalty: (Crime Jun 30, 2015)
End last-minute death penalty appeals: one week deadline

This gamesmanship diminishes respect for the rule of law. It would be a simple matter for the Court to issue rules saying that all applications for stays must be filed at least one week before the execution date. Or, even a single justice could simply announce publicly that he or she would not vote to stay any execution if the stay application were filed less than a week earlier. That would allow, fair, careful, reasoned consideration of the legal claims, not haphazard skimming at midnight. The rule could exclude claims of actual innocence--which could be filed at any time whatsoever--but the vast majority of capital defendants make no claims of innocence.

Ted Cruz on Death Penalty: (Crime Jun 30, 2015)
Capital punishment for the very worst child rapists

To be fair, when it came to leaving work at the hospital steps, I wasn't completely innocent. During much of the time we were there, I was studying cases for an oral argument before the U.S. Supreme Court scheduled for two days later. I was appearing in support of a Louisiana law that allowed capital punishment for the very worst child rapists. It was a horrible case, where a 300-pound man had brutalized has seven-year-old stepdaughter. So just hours after Caroline was born, I said a prayer of thanksgiving, kissed my beautiful wife and baby daughter, rushed to the airport, and flew to Washington to argue the case.

John Kasich on Death Penalty: (Crime May 31, 2015)
Death penalty is consistent with justice & Christian values

KASICH: I don't agree with that. Look, we're just looking for the drugs that we need to administer it. And in this debate, sometimes we forget the victims. Listen, I review all these cases. And to some people I've said we will let them stay for life in prison if I wasn't certain of who did what. But I've had these grieving families come to see me. And look, it's about justice. It isn't about revenge, it's about justice. And I support the death penalty and will continue to do that, because a lot of times, families want closure when they see justice done.

Q: What about religious objection to the death penalty?

KASICH: I think it's consistent with my Catholic faith. If I didn't, I'd have to exorcise it. But look, at the end of the day, I'm also a secular official, right? I'm also the governor. Now, it doesn't mean that my faith doesn't influence me. But I have a job to do as administrator of the state of Ohio.

Hillary Clinton on Death Penalty: (Crime Jan 1, 2015)
Where do Bill and Hillary disagree on social issues?

Rand Paul on Death Penalty: (Crime Jul 24, 2014)
Death penalty is a state issue

White people have accounted for more than half of all executions in the United States since 1976. Kentucky has executed three people since 1976--all white males--but none since 2008. The state's death penalty has been on hold since 2010 pending the outcome of a state lawsuit.

Paul said he did not know if the death penalty is an important issue to minority voters, whom he has been courting in recent months.

Mike Pence on Death Penalty: (Crime Feb 23, 2014)
I support the death penalty; justice demands it

PENCE: I don't see that prospect in the state of Indiana. I support the death penalty. I believe justice demands it in our most heinous cases. But I think what you see in high relief here is a part of the American experiment that explains a lot of the prosperity and success our nation has had for more than two centuries and that is to allow states to have the freedom and flexibility to craft policies, whether it be in the area of criminal justice or whether be in the area of economic policy, in the area of education, in the area of health care, I would argue that will allow the states to be those laboratories of innovation and to reflect the values and the ideals -

Elizabeth Warren on Death Penalty: (Crime Jan 31, 2014)
Oppose death penalty but won't fight it for Marathon Bomber

Senator Elizabeth Warren said she is against the death penalty but respects Holder's decision. Senator Ed Markey said he is against the death penalty, except "in the case of terrorism." Martha Coakley, Marty Walsh, Juliette Kayyem, and Don Berwick similarly hedged.

There's a Democrat in the White House, and Massachusetts Democrats don't want to cross him or his AG. There's also the posturing aspect of Holder's decision: seeking the death penalty increases the government's leverage to get a guilty verdict in return for life without parole. And to Massachusetts politicians, "Boston Strong" has come to mean looking tough to the nation on terrorism, not "squishy on crime."

Deval Patrick on Death Penalty: (Crime Jan 31, 2014)
Marathon bomber will die in prison, one way or another

"One way or another, based on the evidence, Tsarnaev will die in prison," declared Gov. Deval Patrick. "The best we can do is remind each other that we are a stronger Commonwealth than ever and that nothing can break that spirit."

There's a Democrat in the White House, and Massachusetts Democrats don't want to cross him or his AG. There's also the posturing aspect of Holder's decision: seeking the death penalty increases the government's leverage to get a guilty verdict in return for life without parole. And to Massachusetts politicians, "Boston Strong" has come to mean looking tough to the nation on terrorism, not "squishy on crime."

Marty Walsh on Death Penalty: (Crime Jan 31, 2014)
Marathon bomber will die in prison, one way or another

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, who voted against the death penalty in the state Legislature, said he would still vote against it, but supports "the process" that brought Holder "to this decision." Gov. Deval Patrick, Sen. Ed Markey, and gubernatorial candidates Martha Coakley, Juliette Kayyem, & Don Berwick similarly hedged.

There's a Democrat in the White House, and Massachusetts Democrats don't want to cross him or his AG. There's also the posturing aspect of Holder's decision: seeking the death penalty increases the government's leverage to get a guilty verdict in return for life without parole. And to Massachusetts politicians, "Boston Strong" has come to mean looking tough to the nation on terrorism, not "squishy on crime."

Rand Paul on Death Penalty: (Technology Jan 11, 2014)
Snowden revealed NSA abuses, but a fair prison term is ok

I don't think we can't selectively apply the law. Edward Snowden did break a law and there is a prison sentence for that. I don't think Snowden deserves the death penalty or life in prison. I think that's inappropriate. And I think that's why he fled, because that's what he faced. Do I think that it's OK to leak secrets and give up national secrets and things that could endanger lives? I don't think that's OK, either. But I think the courts are now saying that what he revealed was something the government was doing was illegal.

So no clemency for Edward Snowden, but perhaps leniency?

PAUL: Well, I think the only way he's coming home is if someone would offer him a fair trial with a reasonable sentence. I think, really, in the end, history is going to judge that he revealed great abuses of our government and great abuses of our intelligence community.

Barack Obama on Death Penalty: (Crime Aug 27, 2012)
FactCheck:Biden more conservative than Obama on crime issues

Obama-Biden vs. Romney-Ryan on Domestic Issues:
• Alternative Sentencing
• Death Penalty
• Drugs in Society
• Marijuana Legalization
• Gun Rights
• Environment vs. Economy
• Nuclear Waste
• Infrastructure Investment
• WikiLeaks and Secrecy
• Internet Policy
• Health Mandate
• Medicare
• ObamaCare

Rand Paul on Death Penalty: (Homeland Security Jun 12, 2012)
Drones have executed people wrongfully, like death penalty

PAUL: I am concerned about one person deciding the life or death of not only foreigners but US citizens around the world. And the chance that one person could make a mistake is a possibility. So having the president decide who he's going to kill concerns me. I would rather it go through the FISA court. They make the decision over weeks and months. They target people and go after them. I see no reason why there couldn't be some sort of court preceding, even a secret court preceding, to allow some protection. I mean, even in the US where we have the best due process probably in the world, we have probably executed people wrongfully for the death penalty. They have found out through DNA testing, many people on death row are there inaccurately. So I think when we decide to kill someone, that's obviously the ultimate punishment. We need to be very, very certain that what we're doing is not in error.

Merrick Garland on Death Penalty: (Crime Apr 27, 2010)
Oversaw death penalty prosecution for Oklahoma City bombers

Several prosecutors who worked on the case said Garland worked tirelessly to help run the investigation; overseeing search warrants, interacting with other law enforcement agencies and meeting with surviving victims. He appeared in court for the preliminary hearings of the two main suspects, Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols.

Garland was involved in major decisions including seeking the death penalty for McVeigh and Nichols. Garland apparently did not object to that proposal. McVeigh was found guilty and executed in 2001. Nichols is serving a sentence of life without parole.)

Jesse Ventura on Death Penalty: (Drugs Mar 8, 2010)
Banks & prison-industrial complex gets rich on the drug war

Let me cite a few statistics that I find mind-boggling. According to NORML, an advocacy group for legalizing marijuana, more than 700,000 of America's estimated 20 million pot-smokers got arrested in 2008. About HALF of the 200,000 inmates in our federal prisons are in there for drug-related offenses. Between 1970 and 2007, we saw a 547% increase in our prison population, mainly because of our drug policies. Of course, that's just fine with the new prison-industrial complex, where corporations are now running the show. We as taxpayers shell out $68 billion every year for prisons, & a lot of that end up going into private contractors' pockets!

Of course, they're not the only ones getting rich. Well-documented federal reports lead to the conclusion that American banks are "collectively the world's largest financial beneficiary of the drug trade."

Mike Gravel on Death Penalty: (Crime Apr 22, 2008)
Eliminate the federal death penalty

Gravel supports the following principles regarding crime:
• Eliminate the use of the death penalty for federal crimes.
• Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
• Support programs to provide prison inmates with drug and alcohol addiction treatment.
• Reduce prison sentences for those who commit non-violent crimes.

Jesse Ventura on Death Penalty: (Crime Apr 1, 2008)
Opposes death penalty because DNA proves too many mistakes

Hillary Clinton on Death Penalty: (Homeland Security Mar 25, 2008)
Long-held pro-defense spending stance; not a move to center

For Clinton, long-held positions, like a hawkish approach to military affairs, are taken as evidence of a shift. And the prevailing assumption is that when she breaks with some in her party (or even when she sticks with her party) it is for crass political purposes and not an outgrowth of genuine conviction.

Hillary Clinton on Death Penalty: (Crime Jan 1, 2008)
Longtime advocate of death penalty, with restrictions

Joe Biden on Death Penalty: (Crime Nov 11, 2007)
Biden Law of 1994 created several new capital offenses

• Banned the manufacture of 19 specific semiautomatic “assault weapons”
• Allocated more money to build prisons & set up bootcamps for delinquent minors
• Designated 50 new federal offenses, including gang membership, and created several new federal death penalty offenses, including murders related to drug dealing, drive-by shooting murders, civil rights-related murders, murders of federal law enforcement officers, and death caused by acts of terrorism or weapons of mass destruction.

Barack Obama on Death Penalty: (Crime Oct 30, 2007)
No extra penalty for gang association

Hillary Clinton on Death Penalty: (Principles & Values Jul 18, 2007)
Sought pastoral guidance on doubts about capital punishment

The topic had long provided Bill with a good issue to help position himself a moderate. Jones discussed this issue with Hillary when Gov. Clinton was once considering whether to commute a capital sentence. Hillary “agonized” over the decision, and consulted Jones. Jones told her, “I believe there is such a thing as punitive justice; that’s part of the whole concept of justice. And I think some people have forfeited their right to life because of the heinous deed that they’ve committed.” In response, says Jones, Hillary told him, “Well, I think I agree with you.”

However, says Jones, it was evident that Hillary “was struggling with the question of could she conscientiously as a Christian say that. There was uncertainty. I attribute that to her faith.”

Barack Obama on Death Penalty: (Crime Feb 10, 2007)
Reformed death penalty by listening & compromising

It was here we learned to disagree without being disagreeable--that it’s possible to compromise so long as you know those principles that can never be compromised; and that so long as we’re willing to listen to each other, we can assume the best in people instead of the worst.

That’s why we were able to reform a death penalty system that was broken. That’s why we were able to give health insurance to children in need. That’s why we made the tax system more fair and just for working families, and that’s why we passed ethics reforms that the cynics said could never, ever be passed.

Mike Gravel on Death Penalty: (Crime Jan 1, 2007)
Citizen Power includes abolition of the death penalty

Barack Obama on Death Penalty: (Crime Oct 1, 2006)
Some heinous crimes justify the ultimate punishment

Barack Obama on Death Penalty: (Crime Oct 1, 2006)
Videotape all capital punishment interrogations

In negotiating the bill, I talked about the common value that I believed everyone shared--that no innocent person should end up on death row, abd that no person guilty of a capital offense should go free. At the end of the process, the bill had the support of all the parties involved, and it passed unanimously.

Howie Hawkins on Death Penalty: (Crime Jun 30, 2006)
End the death penalty

Deval Patrick on Death Penalty: (Crime Jun 7, 2006)
Opposes death penalty

Deval Patrick On the issues
• Death penalty: Opposes

Mike Bloomberg on Death Penalty: (Crime Dec 5, 2005)
Lock them up and throw away key, but no death penalty

Marty Walsh on Death Penalty: (Crime Nov 15, 2005)
Voted NO on reinstating capital punishment

The Governor recommended legislation reinstating capital punishment in the Commonwealth. A vote of YES would include the Governor's recommended bill, and would reinstate the death penalty for certain crimes, and with numerous safeguards against abuse. The crimes included: terrorism; killing police officers; torture; or murder-sprees.

The relevant part of the MassDems Platform is Part X, clause 3: SAFETY, JUSTICE AND CRIME PREVENTION: In opposing the reinstatement of the death penalty, Massachusetts Democrats join with other western democracies in upholding the Universal Doctrine of Human Rights. Instead, the Commonwealth imposes life in prison without parole for first-degree murderers.

Bill H. 3834 ; vote number H302

Barack Obama on Death Penalty: (Abortion Oct 21, 2004)
Moral accusations from pro-lifers are counterproductive

KEYES: It doesn’t conflict at all. Abortion and capital punishment are at different level of moral concern. Abortion is intrinsically, objectively wrong and sinful whereas capital punishment is a matter of judgment, which is not in and of itself a violation of moral right. The question of whether or not you should apply capital punishment depends on circumstances and it’s an area where Catholics have a right to debate and disagree.

OBAMA: Now I agree with Mr. Keyes that the death penalty and abortion are separate cases. It’s unfortunate that with the death penalty Mr. Keyes respects that people may have a different point of view but with the issue of abortion he has labeled people everything as terrorists to slaveholders to being consistent with Nazism for holding an opposing point of view. That kind of rhetoric is not helpful in resolving a deeply emotional subject.

Barack Obama on Death Penalty: (Crime Oct 21, 2004)
Death penalty should be enforced fairly and with caution

KEYES: It doesn’t conflict at all. Abortion and capital punishment are at different level of moral concern. Abortion is intrinsically, objectively wrong and sinful whereas capital punishment is a matter of judgment.

OBAMA: I think that the death penalty is appropriate in certain circumstances. There are especially heinous crimes: terrorism, the harm of children. Obviously, we’ve had some problems in this state in the application of the death penalty. That’s why a moratorium was put in place and that’s why I was so proud to be one of the leaders in overhauling a death penalty system that was broken. We became the first in the nation requiring the video taping of capital interrogations and confessions. We have to have this ultimate sanction in certain circumstances where the whole community says “this is beyond the pale.”

Barack Obama on Death Penalty: (Crime Oct 21, 2004)
Death penalty should not discriminate by gang membership

OBAMA: [The proposed legislation] was entirely unnecessary and unconstitutional. It suggested that I could kill a police officer but because I’m not a gang member, I would be treated differently. I think both cases should be death penalty eligible.

KEYES: Senator Obama does not think it superfluous to have hate crimes legislation that adds a special animus to certain acts of violence already penalized against the law. But in order to convey against those certain acts a special category of deviation from society. The law provides a special message aimed at discouraging things considered especially harmful to a society and a community.

Barack Obama on Death Penalty: (Principles & Values Oct 21, 2004)
Seek common ground, not a moral crusade

Barack Obama on Death Penalty: (Crime Jul 15, 2004)
Battles legislatively against the death penalty

Kamala Harris on Death Penalty: (Crime Jan 30, 2004)
Personally opposed to death penalty; as DA, never pursued it

The Chris Kelly campaign, in an effort to emphasize the San Francisco DA's refusal to enforce the law, released a video that shows Harris telling an astonished reporter for the local KTVU news station that "she had never seen a case that merited pursuing the death penalty during her time as District Attorney."

Ken Salazar on Death Penalty: (Crime Oct 6, 2003)
Heinous crimes deserve the ultimate sanction

“These two defendants abducted, tortured, raped and murdered two young women. We exhausted all reasonable efforts to see that they received the appropriate sentences for their crimes,” Salazar said. “These heinous crimes committed by Woldt and Martinez deserve the ultimate sanction of law. While we are disappointed in the disposition announced on their death sentences, the outcome is that these individuals will be in prison for the rest of their lives without the possibility of parole,” said Salazar.

Donald Trump on Death Penalty: (Crime Jul 2, 2000)
Capital punishment isn’t uncivilized; murderers living is

Donald Trump on Death Penalty: (Crime Jul 2, 2000)
Death penalty deters like violent TV leads kids astray

Young male murderers, we are constantly told, are led astray by violent music and violent movies. Fair enough. I believe that people are affected by what they read, see, hear, and experience. Only a fool believes otherwise. So you can’t say on one hand that a kid is affected by music and movies and then turn around and say he is absolutely not affected when he turns on the evening news and sees that a criminal has gone to the chair for killing a child. Obviously capital punishment isn’t going to deter everyone. But how can it not put the fear of death into many would-be killers?

Jesse Ventura on Death Penalty: (Crime Jan 1, 1999)
Put up with death penalty until life sentences mean life

We don’t have it here in Minnesota, thank God, and I won’t advocate to get it. But I will advocate to make life in prison mean life. I don’t think I would want the responsibility for enforcing the death penalties. There’s always the inevitable question of whether someone you gave the order to execute might truly have been innocent.

Jesse Ventura on Death Penalty: (Crime Nov 1, 1998)
Supported death penalty, but now as Governor opposes it

Note: After taking office, Gov. Ventura changed his mind on the death penalty. Extradition orders are frequently signed by the Governor. As he began signing these orders, Gov. Ventura began to think about how he could just as easily be signing orders to commute the death penalty. Then he noted how often it seems to occur that a person originally found guilty is later proven to be innocent, especially with DNA evidence. He noted that you cannot undo the mistake if an innocent person is put to death. He now opposes the death penalty. He continues to believe that a life sentence should mean that the convict will spend the rest of his or her life in prison with no possibility of parole.

Bill Weld on Death Penalty: (Crime Apr 9, 1996)
Support death penalty for cop killers

However, Weld had a few counter-attacks up his sleeve. He sharply criticized Kerry and cited bills that Kerry supported which may not fare well with Americans concerned about crime and the economy. "Kerry voted against the death penalty for cop killers and voted against the balanced budget three times. I hope everyone studies Senator Kerry's voting record," Weld said.

Kerry adamantly denied voting against these bills and repeatedly accused Weld of misrepresenting the facts on issues such as the gasoline tax hike and the death penalty. "Governor, I don't know who does your research--maybe its Oliver Stone," Kerry said in response to Weld's attacks. The senator severely rebuked Weld for using the death penalty as an issue in the race, calling Weld "shameless."