A measure to abolish Louisiana’s death penalty now goes before the full Senate for consideration.
A Senate judicial committee approved the proposal Tuesday after hearing from a Catholic bishop who said executions violate the sanctity of life.
Sen. J.P. Morrell, a New Orleans Democrat, says his measure would end what he calls an archaic punishment that is costly to pursue and hasn’t proven to deter crimes. Starting Aug. 1, capital crimes would be punishable instead by "life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence."
Similar legislation made it this far last year but was never taken up by the Senate. A House bill has not made it to committee.
Heather Beaudoin, National Coordinator for Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty, issued a statement on the vote
"Conservative Republican legislators supporting death penalty repeal in Louisiana reflects the trend we are seeing across the country. Conservatives want policies that are fiscally responsible, limit the size and scope of government, value life, and help victims. The death penalty fails on all counts," Beaudoin said.
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