The Charlotte Observer recently published an op-ed written by Reverend D. Larry Ford of North Carolina. Rev. Ford is a former county GOP Chairman in North Carolina, and he is one of the founding supporters of the North Carolina Conservatives Concerned about the Death Penalty. Rev. Ford outlined the rationale for repealing capital punishment. He said,
As a conservative, I believe in fiscal responsibility. By replacing the death penalty with life in prison we will save North Carolina taxpayers millions of dollars a year.
He went on to say,
As a minister, I know that life in prison will prevent the execution of innocent people. In just the last few years, we have seen six people released from North Carolina’s death row who were found innocent based on evidence that surfaced many years after their convictions.
It’s time to replace an outdated punishment with a new, tough and swift punishment – life in prison without parole.