Changes should be made to death penalty; vote ‘yes’ on Prop. 66

Proposition 62 (abolish the death penalty) and Proposition 66 (changes to make it work) are on the November ballot.

The death penalty is sought in only 2 percent of murders and only when the enormity of the crime and the depravity of the perpetrator are beyond understanding. When the state of California seeks the death penalty its rules are strict and strongly favor the accused. No human institution is infallible but Gov. Brown is correct. No innocent people are on death row in the state of California. Unfortunately, the reverse is not true and the state all too frequently releases dangerous criminals into society to threaten and kill the innocent.

Capital punishment is claimed not to be a deterrent to murder but common sense should tell you differently. If criminals knew that killing their victims would ultimately end in their execution, wouldn’t their default position be to let their victims live? Studies of human behavior are notoriously difficult. The literature supports and denies the deterrent effect of the capital punishment. Take your pick.

California needs to rid itself of its most incorrigible killers for the sake of their victims and society as a whole, no on Proposition 62, yes on Proposition 66.

This story was originally published October 2, 2016 at 3:49 PM with the headline "Changes should be made to death penalty; vote ‘yes’ on Prop. 66."