>> THIS MONTH AT LEAST A DOZEN RELIGIOUS LEADERS GATHERED IN
MISSION VALLEY.
>> CALIFORNIA IS A BEACON ON THE HILL.
>> THE GATHERING WAS HELEN PRASON WHO WROTE "DEAD MAN
WALKING."
>> WHO DESERVES TO DIE?
WE HAVE TO ASK THE FLIP QUESTION.
WHO DESERVES TO KILL THEM?
DO YOU?
DO I?
DO WE AS A SOCIETY?
NO, IT DIMINISHES LIFE.
>> THE GROUP WAS RELIGIOUSLY DIVERSE.
ON THE QUESTION OF THE DEATH PENALTY THEY ALL URGE TO VOTE
FOR PROP 34, TO REPEAL THE DEATH PENALTY IN CALIFORNIA.
ISLAM IS PRO LIFE.
ISLAM IS FOR PROMOTING LIVES AND MAKING THE SOCIETY, THE
COMMUNITY SAFER.
>> I THINK THERE ARE MANY PUNISHMENTS THAT CAN GO ALONG
WITH REDEMPTION AND REHABILITATION THAT DO NOT
DISTINGUISH THE HOPE THAT EVERY HUMAN BEING DESERVES.
>> THE PUNISHMENT THAT WOULD REPLACE THE DEATH PENALTY UNDER
PROPOSITIONS 34 IS LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT THE PROBABILITY
OF PAROLE.
AMONG THOSE SEEING THIS A BETTER WAY IS RONNIE PADRONA.
HER SON WAS KILLED BY A MAN WHO RAN OVER HIM WITH HIS CAR.
SHE NEVER WANTED TO SEE THE OFFENDER PUT TO DEATH.
>> I FELT THE PERSON SHOULD SPEND THE REST OF THEIR LIFE IN
PRISON.
FOR ME THAT'S JUSTICE.
SOME PEOPLE SAY THE DEATH PENALTY IS CLOSURE.
THERE IS NO CLOSURE WHEN YOU LOSE A LOVED ONE THAT WAY.
>> PROP 34 IS BACKED BY DIVERSE GROUPS OF PEOPLE INCLUDING
RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND FORMER LAW ENFORCE.
OFFICIALS.
THEY ARGUE NO JUSTICE SYSTEM IS GOOD ENOUGH TO GUARANTEE NO
INNOCENT PERSON WOULD BE EXECUTED.
THE STATE LEGISLATIVE ANALYST SAYS REPEALING THE DEATH PENALTY
WOULD SAVE A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS EVERY YEAR IN COURT
COSTS MOSTLY.
>> ONE REASON VICTIM FAMILIES SEE NO CLOSURE WITH THE DEATH
PENALTY LIES IN THE HISTORY.
SINCE CALIFORNIA REINSTATED THE DEATH PENALTY IN 1978 THE STATE
HAS CONDEMNED NEARLY 900 PEOPLE TO DEATH.
IT HAS EXECUTED ONLY 13.
THE SUBJECT CAME UP AT A LEGISLATIVE HEARING ON
PROPOSITIONS 34.
THERE FORMER L.A. DISTRICT ATTORNEY GILL GARSETTI SAID --
>> THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN,
DYSFUNCTIONAL AND IT CONDITION BE FIXED.
>> NOT EVERYONE ACCEPTS THE ARGUMENT THE DEATH PENALTY
SHOULD BE ABOLISHED SIMPLY BECAUSE THE STATE HAS FAILED TO
MAKE IT WORK.
BOGGING IT DOWN WITH COST, RED TAPE AND APPEALS.
KERMIT ALEXANDER'S MOTHER AND YOUNGER SISTER WERE MURDERED AND
HE WANTS THE DEATH PENALTY FIXED.
>> WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT THE EXPEDITIOUS WAY TO GET IT DONE
AND GET IT DONE.
>> DANIEL LAMBORN AGREES.
HE PROSECUTED A MAN WHO WAS FOUND SEXUALLY ASSAULTING AND
MURDERING SIX WOMEN.
PRINCE WAS SENTENCED TO DEATH BUT TODAY HE'S STILL ALIVE.
WHEN ASKED WHY HE SUPPORTS THE DEATH PENALTY.
LAMBORN SAYS IMAGINE SOMEONE COMMITTING ONE RAPE AND MURDER.
>> HE DOES THIS NOT ONCE OR TWICE, BUT SIX TIMES AND
TORTURES AND KILLS AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTS WOMAN.
IS FIVE OF THOSE MURDERS FREE ONE?
HE DOESN'T DO ONE MORE DAY IN CUSTODY FOR THOSE WOMEN KILLED?
HE WOULD OF GOTTEN LIFE IN PRISON FOR THE ONE.
WE SEND MESSAGE TO THE COMMUNITY, ONCE YOU DO ONE
MURDER YOU MOIETY AS WELL DO A DOZEN.
THERE WON'T BE ONE MORE DAY IN CUSTODY FOR THAT.
>> CALIFORNIA DEATH ROW INMATES ARE MORE LIKELY TO DIE OF
NATURAL CAUSES THAN EXECUTION.
THEY TYPICALLY STAY ON DEATH ROW FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.
LAMBORN SAYS GIVEN THE POLITICAL WILL CALIFORNIA CAN SPEED UP THE
APPEALS PROCESS.
IN THE END THE ISSUE ISN'T ABOUT COST OR DELAYS IT'S ABOUT DOING
WHAT IS RIGHT.
>> WHEN WE HAVE THE DNA, SOIL SAMPLES, FIBER SAMPLES.
ALL SAYING THIS GUY DID IT.
WHEN WE HAVE A MONSTER WHY NOT DO JUSTICE?
WHY NOT DO JUSTICE?
>> WE LOOK AT THE DEATH OF A INNOCENT JESUS ON A ROMAN CROSS.
WE LEARN TWO THINGS, ONE, HUMAN BEINGS ARE INCAPABLE OF
DISCERNING ULTIMATE INNOCENCE OR GUILT.
AND TWO, EVEN IN THE FACE OF GUILT GOD CALLS US TO GRACE.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]