Replace death penalty with life imprisonment?
A bill from Sen. Kevin Avard, SB 593, would eliminate New Hampshire’s death penalty, replacing it with life imprisonment with no chance of parole. As the law currently stands, not all murders are eligible for a death sentence in New Hampshire. However, killing a cop, murder during another crime such as rape, and murder for hire are all death penalty offenses. Read more about this issue.
“Should NH eliminate its death penalty, replacing it with life imprisonment without parole?”
Discussion held on Citizens Count NH website and Facebook page February 25, 2018
No: 135 citizens were opposed to eliminating the death penalty and replacing it with life imprisonment without parole.
- “Although I'm loathe to have the state take life, the death penalty should be available in the case of child rape, or torture and murder.”
- “Keep the death penalty and use it.”
- “Leave the death penalty. Punishment should fit the crime.”
Yes: 40 citizens were in favor of eliminating the death penalty and replacing it with life imprisonment without parole.
- “The government shouldn't have a say in who lives or who dies.”
- “The amount of innocent people who have been put to death is horrific. It's actually more expensive on average as well.”
- “The state should not be killing people. It's always possible to make a mistake, and with the death penalty, a mistake cannot be corrected.”
Other: 17 citizens addressed their comments to related questions and issues.
These included:
- Current death penalty rules: “I didn't know we had [the] death penalty.”
- Financial considerations: “It cost [sic] $38,000 a year to keep someone in jail in NH.”
- Effectiveness: “Read up on who is on the federal circuit in Boston. No matter what NH did … It's unlikely an execution will ever be carried out here if that federal circuit gets its way.”
*Editor selection of actual participant quotes.
