By Marnie McAllister, Record Editor
Bipartisan legislation to end the death penalty in Kentucky failed in the House judiciary committee last week in a close 8-9 vote.
Despite the loss, advocates are pleased to have had a hearing and vote in committee. It was the first time a bill to abolish the death penalty has been heard since the punishment was reinstated in Kentucky in 1976.
“What this hearing represented was a major step in our progress to abolish the death penalty in Kentucky,” said Father Patrick Delahanty, chair of the Kentucky Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. “In getting a vote, we found out we are very near to getting a bill out of committee. And if we can do that, we’re confident we can get a vote to pass and move to the Senate.”
House Bill 203 sought to replace capital punishment in Kentucky with life in prison and no chance for parole. The measure has bipartisan support and the primary sponsor is Rep. David Floyd, a republican from Bardstown, Ky. A companion bill, Senate Bill 41, is sponsored by Louisville democrat Sen. Gerald Neal.
The Catholic Conference of Kentucky (CCK), the public policy arm of the state’s four bishops, backs the measures as does Conservatives Concerned about the Death Penalty, a national group that also has a Northern Kentucky chapter — Northern Kentucky Conservatives Concerned about the Death Penalty.
“The fact we had the hearing indicates how much interest is growing in reconsidering the death penalty,” said Jason Hall, executive director of the CCK. “There’s more openness than ever before. The problems with it are much more known. People recognize the need for reform, even if they’re not ready to abolish it.”
Father Delahanty said more and more people are leaning against the punishment as they learn about the problems with it, particularly the number of wrongful convictions that have placed innocent people on death row — 156 nationwide, including at least one in Kentucky.
“While there are some who don’t think that’s important, most people are appalled that we would put in place in our government a system that might take innocent life,” he said. “There are so many problems with this system that the execution of the innocent is probable.”
To those who continue to support the death penalty in Kentucky, Father Delahanty repeated a statement he often makes: “The death penalty you support is not the one we have.”
Currently, 32 prisoners are facing death sentences in Kentucky. Since it was reinstated in the commonwealth 40 years ago, three people have been executed.
Father Delahanty and Hall of the CCK also applauded the efforts of those around the state who have contacted lawmakers and encouraged them to abolish capital punishment.
“The support from people in the community — from the prolife directors, the social concerns people — who were alerting people about the bill was another sign of the interest people have in seeing the penalty end.
“I want to applaud Ed Harpring (pro-life coordinator for the Archdiocese of Louisville) and Mark Bouchard (of Catholic Charities of Louisville) for the work they’ve done within the diocese to engage people in working with their legislators to raise awareness during the session. It had an impact,” said Father Delahanty. “The impact was not so much on the hearing itself, but on finding legislators we knew would support it if the bill gets out of committee. This was support we did not know we had.”
Hall added that it’s never too late to contact legislators about this or other issues. Members of the General Assembly can be reached at the legislative hotline: 800-372-7181.
By following the Catholic Conference of Kentucky on Facebook and Twitter (@CCofKy), you can receive updates on legislation and action alerts on issues important to the church.
