Nebraska lawmakers have banned the death penalty, even overriding their governor’s veto. I congratulate them on realizing that the “eye for an eye” law was–listen up, Christians–the old law, replaced by a new Law of humanity and reason. They came to understand that the death penalty, on the moral level, is unequally applied and too permanent in cases when guilt is later disproved; on the practical level, far too expensive; and, on the emotional level, seldom brings victims’ families the peace they long for. Lawmakers saw that the practice was not justice but simple revenge.
Nebraska is state #19 (plus DC). We’re well past 1/3 of our civilized nation’s ridding itself of the practice, as much of the rest of the major nations have done. Yet we’re so far away from even 1/2.
I’m sad to say that my state, California, is on the wrong side of those percentages. If you live on that side, urge your state’s lawmakers to do something about ending this national shame.