February 5, 2016
At this moment, Florida has no death penalty thanks to a ruling from the United States Supreme Court. The Florida Legislature is attempting to enact a new death penalty statute. This new statute will clog the court system, prolong the suffering of the families of murder victims, and cost taxpayers millions of dollars each year.
I am asking you to copy the letter below and bring it to your pastor, priest, rabbi, or faith leader. Ask them to endorse the sentiments contained in the letter. If your faith leader is agreeable, please contact me and confirm that I may add their signature to the letter.
We are in the middle of a historic moment where we can stop state sponsored killings in Florida.
Adam Tebrugge
Adam@TebruggeLegal.com
Voices of Florida Religious Leaders
We, the undersigned clergy and religious leaders, reflecting the rich diversity of faith traditions
in Florida, call for the end of the state's death penalty. Because we represent such a wide
spectrum of belief and practice, we approach public policies, such as the death penalty, in as
varied ways as we approach spiritual matters. However, we share the values of respecting the
sacredness of all human life and in the human capacity for change.
As leaders within our communities, the public often seeks our guidance on issues that require
thoughtful consideration.
We have concluded that the death penalty fails us. We join many in Florida who question capital punishment due to its record as an ineffective, unfair and
fallible response to violence. The death penalty applies disproportionately to the poor and
minorities and puts innocent lives at risk of execution. Since 1973, 150 individuals sentenced to
death were later exonerated of their crimes. When a human life is at stake, there is simply no
room for error.
As religious leaders, we often serve as a resource to victims' families in the aftermath of
murder. Given this responsibility, we have a special interest in advocating for policies that serve
their needs and promote healing and well-being. There is growing evidence that the death
penalty does the opposite: it prolongs victims' pain and delays healing while retrials, appeals,
and reversals force families to relive their trauma.
Finally, we cannot ignore the millions of dollars it costs to administer the death penalty system.
In light of the serious economic challenges facing our state and the nation, the valuable
resources expended on the death penalty would be better invested in programs to prevent
crime and meet the needs of victims' families.
As people of faith, we reaffirm our opposition to the death penalty in all cases and our belief in
the sacredness of human life. We urge you, our elected officials, to examine the reality of
Florida's death penalty and seek ways to achieve true healing for those who suffer because
of violent crime. Please support the end of the death penalty. It is time for Florida to move
beyond this broken and harmful system.
