Death Penalty Vote

[Ravenshire]

My home state (Oregon) hasn't executed anyone in my lifetime, despite capital punishment being a thing.  People sentenced to die in Oregon currently appear to be sentenced for life, because we ain't killin' 'em.  

In my adopted state of Washington, capital punishment is technically legal but is under moratorium by executive order.

It seems to me in both states, the practice could be outlawed without any real effect, beyond making the prod-death penalty crowd apoplectic.

Actually:

Two people have been executed in Oregon since the reinstatement of capital punishment in 1978. Both waived their appeals and asked that the execution be carried out.

I clearly remember the candlelight vigils held for these executions and thinking (at the time) what a bunch of fools they were to hold a vigil for a killer. Needless to say, I've changed my stance since then. Like Washington, the death penalty in Oregon is currently under moratorium by executive order of (former) Governor John Kitzhaber and has been reaffirmed by Governor Kate Brown.

At best, capital punishment is vengeance carried out by the state in the name of the victim's survivors. At worst, it is the very crime that would carry the punishment in the state it's implemented in. It's expensive, ineffective in it's stated purpose (deterrent) and too many innocents have already swung.