November 2016
If you're a California voter, there is an important proposition on your ballot this year: Proposition 62, which bans the death penalty.
For California voters: Proposition 62 bans the death penalty.
California voters have an important measure this year: Proposition 62, which bans the death penalty.
When I was younger I used to think the debate about the death penalty was about when it's ok to take a human life.
Is it ok to kill a killer?
But that is not the issue here.
The real world does not work like the version I was shown on TV growing up.
The police often arrest the wrong person.
Defendants' lawyers are often incompetent.
And prosecutors are often motivated more by publicity than justice.
I used to think this was about when it's ok to kill a killer.
But that is not the issue here.
The real world isn't like TV. Police arrest the wrong person, lawyers are incompetent, prosecutors chase publicity.
I used to think this debate was about when it's ok to take a life. But it isn't—because in the real world the police, lawyers, and prosecutors all get it wrong.
So this is not about whether it's ok to kill killers.
This is about whether it's ok to kill innocent people.
A child could answer that one for you.
About 4% of those sentenced to death are innocent. So this is about killing innocents, not killers.
A child could answer that one for you.
About 4% of people sentenced to death are innocent, so this isn't about killing killers—it's about killing innocent people. A child could answer that one.
This year, in California, you have a chance to end this, by voting yes on Proposition 62.
But beware, because there is another proposition, Proposition 66, whose goal is to make it easier to execute people.
So yes on 62, no on 66.
It's time.
Vote yes on 62—but beware Proposition 66, which makes executions easier.
So yes on 62, no on 66.
It's time.
Vote yes on 62—but beware Proposition 66, which aims to make executions easier. So yes on 62, no on 66. It's time.