USA - Connecticut. Families of Murdered Sign Letter Against Death Penalty

Families of Murdered Sign Letter Against Death Penalty. The families of murder victims are gathering on the 9^th at the state Capitol to voice support for repealing Connecticut's death penalty. The group is scheduled to hold a news conference. 76 people who have all lost loved ones to murder have signed a letter saying capital punishment in Connecticut offers a "false promise that goes unfilled," leaving the families frustrated and angry after fighting the legal system for years. “And as the state hangs onto this broken system, it wastes millions of dollars that could go toward much needed victims' services”. Some believe that they stand with victims' families by supporting the death penalty for "particularly heinous murders." We have difficulty understanding this position. The implication is that other murders are ordinary and do not merit the death penalty. From experience, we can tell you that every murder is heinous, a tragedy for the lost one's family. The death penalty has the effect of elevating certain victims' families above others. Connecticut should be better than that. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who assumed office on Jan. 5, has said he will sign legislation abolishing the state's death penalty, a marked change from former Gov. M. Jodi Rell, who supported capital punishment for particularly heinous crimes.