One hundred and six years ago today Kansas became one of the first states to pass legislation ending the death penalty.
Kansas’ death penalty was reinstated a few times since 1907, most recently in 1994. But it was never embraced.
In 2010 the State Senate voted 20-20 on repealing the death penalty, with 12 Republicans and 8 Democrats saying ‘yes’ to repeal. This was the first time in the modern era a repeal vote garnered more Republicans than Democrats.
Last year’s legislative hearing on the death penalty was dominated by repeal supporters. Murder victims’ families, law enforcement, and members of the legal community all testified. Committee chair Rep. Pat Colloton made her first public statement in favor of repeal.
Thousands of repeal supporters from the EJUSA community and our state partners at the Kansas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty have already called on leaders in Kansas to end the broken system. Now – on the anniversary of the day Kansas repealed the death penalty in 1907 – it’s time to raise the volume.
Our campaign strategist, Ben, has been on the ground in Kansas meeting with religious and civic leaders, victims’ family members and members of the legal community. He’s celebrating Kansas’ Repeal Day by amping up his efforts to make repeal a reality.
