Comment & Debate
[deathpenalty.org] – “The USA is keeping company with notorious human rights abusers. The vast majority of countries in Western Europe, North America and South America — more than 105 nations worldwide — have abandoned capital punishment. The United States remains in the same company as Iraq, Iran, and China as one of the major advocates and users of capital punishment.”
Charles B. Blackmar, former senior judge of Missouri’s Supreme Court – Most nations that share our political and cultural traditions have done away with the death penalty. The nations that still have capital punishment include China, North Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria and, before the American invasion, Iraq.[1]
John J. Gibbons, former Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit – It is horrible that in a civilized country the arbitrary imposition of revenge continues to exist … We are completely out of step. We should be ashamed.[2]
Lewis F. Powell, former U.S. Supreme Court Justice, in: J. Jeffries, Justice Lewis F. Powell, Jr. 451 (1994) (quoting Powell). – [W]e are the only Western democracy that still has capital punishment. In my view it should be abolished. Let me add just this: It does not deter murders. It serves no purpose.[3]
Nancy Trease, former Assistant Attorney General of Texas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, letters to the editor, 1 Feb. 2004. – In numbers of executions, the United States ranks 3rd in an embarrassing list that includes China, Congo, Iran, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. No civilized Western nation executes criminals. When we insist on rebuffing the world court’s determination of unfairness simply because we have the power to do so, we offend our friends and support, by example, the countries we most criticize.[4]