NCADP - The National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

Action alert:

Oppose death penalty reinstatement

in Wisconsin!

Wisconsin has been free of the death penalty for 153 years. But now the issue is one vote away from appearing on the November ballot!

If you live in Wisconsin, we need you to call key state senators to oppose reinstatement. If you know someone who lives in Wisconsin and who opposes the death penalty, please forward this action alert to them.

Time is of the essence!

The Facts:

The Wisconsin Assembly has approved legislation placing a referendum on the death penalty on the November election ballot. Although this referendum would be nonbinding, it would move Wisconsin one step toward reinstating the death penalty – at a time when other states are moving away from capital punishment.

The Wisconsin Senate could take up this legislation the week of Monday, May 15. We need you to contact the following key state senators now!

Simply fill out this form letter below to automatically send emails to the pertinent legislators. Alternatively, you can also call their offices at:

BRESKE, ROGER M. (608) 266−2509

DARLING, ALBERTA (608) 266−5830

ELLIS, MICHAEL G. (608) 266−0718

GROTHMAN, GLENN (608) 266−7513

HARSDORF, SHEILA (608) 266−7745

LAZICH, MARY (608) 266−5400

OLSEN, LUTHER S (608) 266−0751

SCHULTZ, DALE W. (608) 266−0703

September 10, 2010

Subject:

I urge you to oppose SJR 5, legislation that would put a death penalty referendum on the ballot. Wisconsin has not had the death penalty for 153 years; it certainly does not need it now. Current Wisconsin law allows society to be protected from dangerous criminals by providing a maximum of life in prison without parole for the most serious homicides. Nationally 123 persons in 25 states have been released from death row due to evidence of wrongful conviction. The criminal justice system is a human system, prone to mistakes. Even seemingly simple mistakes can put innocent persons on death row. An advisory referendum would be divisive and would not give legislators any additional quality information beyond what they are already hearing from their constituents. It is a distraction from the other campaigns that will be on the November ballot. There won't be a high-quality public debate on the real issue, but rather a few sound bites, mostly drowned out by candidates trying to get elected. Finally, it is contrary to the Wisconsin tradition to put advisory referenda on the ballot on such hot button issues. Thank you for your time and consideration in this important and urgent matter.
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