State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn calls on colleagues to repeal Indiana’s death penalty

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Editor’s note: State Rep. Garcia Wilburn was joined by 14 other Indiana House Democrats on this letter.

Dear Editor:

On the heels of an executive order to restore the death penalty from the Office of the President of the United States today, I am reaching out to urge you to support Representative Bob Morris’ House Bill 1030 which repeals the death penalty in Indiana. This piece of legislation will realign our State’s commitment to the pursuit of justice by acknowledging there is no conclusive evidence “of the deterrent value of the death penalty” to prevent crime, affirmed by an increasing number of law enforcement professionals.

I believe that this legislation strikes a balance wherein the person’s death sentence is commuted to a sentence of life imprisonment without parole. Furthermore, it safeguards the risk of the potential execution of innocent people and prevents the collective trauma that is experienced by all people involved in an execution helping to ensure a morally well society. Together, we can support and uplift House Bill 1030 as a collective body.

As a person of faith, I harken back to Pope Francis’ call for the abolition of the death penalty in 2020. Below are a few words of his that I would like to share.

“All people of good will to mobilize for the abolition of the death penalty throughout the world. Capital punishment offers no justice to victims but rather encourages revenge. And it prevents any possibility of undoing a possible miscarriage of justice.”

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. Thank you for your consideration, I appreciate your work, and I hope we will continue to collaborate with you on this subject matter.

State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn
House District 32
D–Fishers