Agenda - 06-18-2013 - 5a - Laserfiche WebLink

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4 1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution shall be forwarded by Clerk 2 to the Board of Commissioners to the Governor of the State of North Carolina; the state 3 Senator and the State Representatives in the N.C. General Assembly who represent our 4 community; the President of the United States; the two U.S. Senators from North Carolina; and 5 the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives representing our community. 6 7 This the 23rd day of April 2013. 8 9 Commissioner Dorosin thanked all that brought this petition forward. He said that this 10 resolution comes to the board just a day after April 22nd, the 26th anniversary of McClesky 11 versus Kent. He said this Supreme Court ruling held that a defendant could not rely on 12 statistical evidence of racial bias, no matter how persuasive, in challenging the constitutionality 13 of the death sentence. He said the Supreme Court majority said that to accept the argument 14 that capital punishment was infected by racism would call into question the underlying principles 15 of the entire criminal justice system. 16 He said Justice William Brennen, in dissent, said that the majority's opinion was 17 grounded in a fear of too much justice. He said he believes the death penalty is immoral, 18 unconstitutional and racist and he desperately feels that we need "too much justice." 19 20 A motion was made by Commissioner Dorosin seconded by Commissioner Price to 21 approve the resolution to repeal the death penalty and to use the savings to assist murder 22 victims' families and help prevent violent crime and authorize the Chair to sign. 23 24 Commissioner McKee said there is no question that bias in the system has been proven, 25 nor does he doubt that there have been rogue prosecutors, and that mistakes have been made 26 that send people to death row. He said this is regrettable and these are egregious mistakes. 27 He said his personal view is that some acts are so morally wrong and egregious, such as the 28 bombing in Boston and the incident at Newtown; that the only solution is that the perpetrator 29 should forfeit their life. He said he is going to vote against this because he is becoming 30 uncomfortable with so many unanimous votes on this board on social justice issues. He said 31 there are very different views on this death penalty issues and many variant viewpoints on both 32 extremes. He said he would like to give a voice to those other views. 33 Commissioner Pelissier said she recognized that some people do support the death 34 penalty, but polls show that the majority of people realize it is unjust. She said she feels the 35 Board owes it to the citizens to represent a majority viewpoint and show that there is a desire 36 for justice to be done correctly in this state. 37 Commissioner Price thanked all that have been behind repealing the death penalty and 38 she said she has supported it all the way. She said that she has heard stories over the years, 39 of victim's families who find reconciliation with the perpetrators. She feels there is a move in 40 the direction of humanity and justice. 41 Commissioner Rich said she supported this resolution and thanked all that brought this 42 forth. She spent many hours in a car this weekend with a group of teenagers and there was 43 discussion of the death penalty. She said that this next generation does not understand why 44 the death penalty exists. She said this resolution is for this generation and the next generation. 45 She believes that the majority of Orange County residents believe in this resolution and she is 46 happy to support it. 47 Chair Jacobs said ever since he was on the debate team in high school and had the 48 opportunity to choose a side in the death penalty discussion; he has always seen both sides of 49 the argument. He said that in situations like Adolph Hitler, he is supportive of the death penalty.