Repealing the Death Penalty in NM

From Amnesty International:
Please help us bring an end to the death penalty in New Mexico!  House Bill 576, introduced on January 31 by Representative Gail C. Beam, would repeal New Mexico's death penalty statute.

TAKE ACTION

1) Please call your State Representative today (or leave a voice message over the weekend!). Urge her/him to oppose the death penalty.
- Find out the name and phone number for your Representative.
- Or call the Legislative Switchboard - Phone Number: 505-986-4300

2) Contact Governor Bill Richardson (please call your Representative before you contact Governor Richardson)
- Send a free fax:
https://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=11568
- Make a phone call - Phone Number: 505-476-2200

The bill has bipartisan support with 34 co-sponsors. The legislative initiative not only repeals the death penalty but also redirects state resources previously used for death penalty litigation to fund an innovative package of victims' services programs. The bill passed the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee by a vote of 4 to 2 and passed the House Judiciary with a vote of 6 to 3.  The first House floor vote ever could happen as soon as Monday, February 28.

Talking Points for Governor Richardson and Representatives

- I strongly urge you to support HB 576, a bill to repeal New Mexico’s death penalty statute.

- This important legislative initiative would help redirect state resources previously used for death penalty litigation to fund an innovative package of victims' services programs.*

- Nearly two-thirds (65%) of voters in New Mexico and in the nation favor replacing the death penalty with life without parole and some form of restitution for the families of murder victims. (According to a poll conducted in September 2004 by Greenberg, Quinlan & Rosner Research Inc.)

- Since 1973, over 110 people on death row have been exonerated due to wrongful conviction.

- 118 countries have now abolished the death penalty in law or practice.

- Governor Richardson/Representative, I urge you to demonstrate leadership on this critical human rights issue.

*(HB 576 was introduced with HB 577 and HB 578 as part of the “Catastrophic Crime and Family Restitution Program.  House Bills 577 and 578, also introduced by Rep. Beam, include provisions for victims' services.  HB 577 provides college tuition assistance to children of murder victims and establishes a help line for families of murder victims. HB 578 would require employers to grant employment leave to crime victims to allow them to attend court proceedings.)

For more information, please visit the New Mexico Coalition to Repeal the Death Penalty.

Thanks for your help in this urgent matter.
Rosa Del Angel, Amnesty International USA
Online Action Center