Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

For the first time a hearing on a bill to abolish the death penalty was held in the State Capitol in Austin.

The testimony of Dave Atwood (Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty).

March 25, 2003, was a historic day for Texas.  For the first time in recent history,  a hearing on a bill to abolish the death penalty was held in the State Capitol in Austin.   The bill was HB 343 introduced by State Representative Harold Dutton of Houston.  Everyone who testified on the bill, testified in its favor.  Here is the testimony of Dave Atwood. 

Testimony of David Atwood on HB 343, a bill to abolish the death penalty in Texas

 "I am in full support of HB 343, a bill to abolish the death penalty, that has been introduced by State Representative Harold Dutton.  Texas has had 300 executions since the death penalty was resumed in the state in 1982.  Another execution of a mentally-ill man, James Colburn, is scheduled for tomorrow, March 26.  With all these executions, Texas should have no murders if the death penalty was a deterrent to crime. 

 I oppose the death penalty for moral reasons.  I believe that all life is sacred, even the life of a person who has committed a heinous crime.  This is the teaching of my church, the Catholic Church, and many other Christian denominations.    

 I do not believe in an eye-for-an-eye approach to justice.  This approach was rejected by Jesus who taught us to be merciful, compassionate and forgiving.   

 I oppose the death penalty because it does not bring closure to the families of victims and continues a cycle of violence.  Many family members of murder victims oppose the death penalty. There are a number of people from Murder Victims' Families for Reconciliation in Austin today to speak in favor of abolishing the death penalty.   

 I oppose the death penalty because the Texas death penalty system is broken.  The system has been shown to have many flaws including inadequate legal representation for the poor and police and prosecutorial misconduct.  The system is biased against the poor, minorities and people with mental disabilities.  If for no other reason, these flaws and biases should cause us to stop executions.

 I oppose the death penalty because innocent people have been sentenced to death in Texas. This is well-documented. I also believe that innocent people have been executed.   Odell Barnes Jr. was executed in the year 2000.  One piece of evidence that led to his conviction was a spot of blood on his clothing that matched the victim's blood.  Later on, in the final stages of his appeal, it was shown that this blood had come from a test tube, and not directly from the victim.  The only reasonable conclusion that one can come to is that the blood was planted on his clothing to get the conviction.  The courts, the Board of Pardons and Paroles and the governor knew this, and yet they let Barnes go to his death without even the courtesy of a hearing on this new information. 

 Finally, I oppose the death penalty because I know we can have a safe society without it.  We can be tough on crime without the death penalty. We can put dangerous criminals in prison for whatever time it takes to protect society.  

 For all these reasons, and many more, I support HB 343 calling for abolition of the death penalty in Texas."   

 David Atwood, Co-Founder

Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

March 25, 2003