IN THIS UPDATE
It has been a very busy day in the Nebraska Legislature. Senator Brenda Council announced that she will introduce a bill to abolish the death penalty (
http://journalstar.com/news/politics/doc49663bdb3c3ea890075272.txt). Also, Senator Mike Flood along with the Governor and Attorney General announced they will move forward with a bill to implement lethal injection as Nebraska’s new method of execution (
http://journalstar.com/news/politics/doc496562cd056c3558632783.txt). We must ensure that our message is heard loud and clear by in the halls of the capitol!
“We should not rush towards a new method of execution when the death penalty is so clearly flawed.”
We are asking you to take two important steps TODAY!! At the bottom of this email you will find talking points that can guide you in contacting your legislator, your newspaper, and your neighbors. If you have any questions, comments, or would like more info please send me an email at jill.francke@gmail.com
1. Write a letter to you Senator asking them to support Senator Councils bill to end the Death Penalty in Nebraska and your opposition to efforts to implement lethal injection this year.
All Senators can be reached at Capitol Mailing Address below. All you need to do is fill in your Senators name and district number.
Senator ___________
District __ State Capitol
PO Box 94604
Lincoln NE 68509-4604
This link will take you to the 2009 Nebraska Unicameral Legislature Roster http://www.unicam.state.ne.us/pdf/senators/2009_roster.pdf where you can find your Senators name and district number
Not sure who your senator is? There is a great new function on the Nebraska Unicameral website that will tell you what district you are in!! Visit http://www.nebraskalegislature.gov/senators/senator_find.php where you will find a map of the state. In the lower right corner of the map you will find a “search the map” box where you can enter your street address and city. Hit the search button and then click on the arrow that appears on the map and your Senator and District number will pop up on the map. Keep in mind that this is still showing the Senators from the last session so make sure you check the 2009 Nebraska Unicameral Legislature Roster to ensure that your letter is sent to the right person!!
2. Write a letter to the editor of your local paper.
You can submit a letter to the Lincoln Journal Star here https://secure.townnews.com/journalstar.com/secure/services_forms/editorial/letter_to_editor/. Please be sure to include your name, address, and phone number so they can verify and run your letter.
To submit a letter to the Omaha World Herald you can email it to pulse@owh.com. Again include your name, address, and phone number so they can reach you if they want to print your submission.
Email jill.francke@gmail.com if you want help writing your letters.
If you still want to do more… we can help!
We are looking for people who are interested in hosting small events in their community. We can provide you with a copy of the new movie At the Death House Door and can come along to help facilitate this very important discussion!! The movie has been nominated for an Golden Globe Award this year and has been showing on the Independent Film Channel. A synopsis can be found here http://www.ifc.com/atthedeathhousedoor. If you can help bring this movie to your community or are just interested in seeing it happen please contact me at jill.francke@gmail.com.
Talking Points
- We’ve learned a lot about the death penalty since 1973. For three and a half decades, we have tinkered with Nebraska’s death penalty in an effort to make it fair, accurate, and effective. Despite the best intentions of many the system remains broken. Don’t bring back such a broken system.
- Given the recent events surrounding the “Beatrice 6″ we see that the risk of executing an innocent person is real. Nebraska has sentenced innocent people to life in prison with the threat of the death penalty. The criminal justice system is run by human beings – and we are not perfect 100% of the time. Innocent Nebraskans have been convicted as result of shoddy forensics, coerced confessions, jailhouse snitches, and mistaken witnesses. Changing the method of execution does nothing to address the fundamental problems that still exist with the death penalty.
- Throughout the state, counties, cities, and towns are struggling with tight budgets and increasingly limited resources. Capital punishment is a bloated government program that has clogged our courts, delayed justice for victims’ families, and devoured millions of crime-fighting dollars.
- Today, we can lock people away for life. Nebraska did not offer the alternative of life without parole when the death penalty was reinstated in 1973, but now we have that option. It is a severe punishment that keeps defendants behind bars until they die. To be meaningful, justice must be both swift and sure. The death penalty has turned out to be neither, and we shouldn’t bring it back.
- Nebraskans don’t want a broken death penalty system. The mounting evidence of waste, inaccuracy, and bias has shattered public confidence in the criminal justice system. Death sentences are at an all-time low and public support for the death penalty has dropped in favor of life without parole. Across the country, states are reconsidering their death penalty statutes. The death penalty is dying, and Nebraskans don’t want it revived.
When: Thursday, Jan 8, 2009