The state’s latest scheduled execution was put on hold after an inmate asked to donate his organs with his death. Now two lawmakers from Northeast Ohio say the practice should be ended altogether.
Democratic Reps. Nickie J. Antonio of Lakewood and Dan Ramos made their pitch Tuesday in a statehouse news conference.
Appearing with them were representatives from Ohioans to Stop Executions, the Catholic Conference of Ohio, the Temple Israel of Columbus and the St. John’s Episcopal Church of Columbus.
“It is time for Ohio to abolish this archaic punishment,” Antonio said. “The many flaws surrounding the death penalty show the punishment to be expensive, impractical, unjust, inhumane and erroneous. It is time to evolve to a more just society and replace the death penalty to life without parole in Ohio.”
Antonio and Ramos cited many reasons for ending the death penalty in Ohio, including new developments in DNA evidence testing; racial disparities in sentencing; disparities in the local affordability of capitol indictments; and a shortage accessing lethal execution drugs due to the refusal by manufacturers to have their drug, originally created to save lives, be used as a lethal injection.
“This isn’t how our criminal justice system should work. Seeking the death penalty comes at a greater cost to taxpayers and a painful, lengthy trial process for families seeking closure,” Ramos said. “Studies continue to show that the death penalty is applied unequally and arbitrarily. The geographic area or socioeconomic background you come from should not determine whether you are sentenced to death or life in prison.”
Their proposal faces an uphill climb.
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