Some Ohio Republicans are pushing back against a group of fellow conservatives who want to repeal the death penalty because they say it’s inconsistent with pro-life views, it’s expensive, and it’s a government policy that’s full of errors and inefficiencies. Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler reports.
Former Governor Bob Taft, former attorney general Jim Petro and three current state representatives are among the 36 notable Republicans to join Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty. Former deputy Ohio Attorney General Mark Weaver has longtime Republican connections from many campaigns. He’s skeptical that the group has as much support as they’re claiming.
“I don’t know of any conservatives outside of that stripe of folks who are truly conscientious Catholics who are taking their doctrine of life all the way through the death penalty. So I’m sure there will be a group, I’m sure they’ll have a website. That’s exciting. The notion of grassroots conservatives being anti-death penalty is just not true.”
Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty is a project of Equal Justice USA, which some conservative critics say is a liberal organization, but it’s a nonpartisan group advocating for changes to the criminal justice system, including ending capital punishment.
