[DP-Announce] Let's make progress in eliminating the death penalty

[Rich Woodward]

Friends in opposition of the death penalty,

Last weekend 3 of us from BCS went to the annual meeting in Austin. The
message of the conference was clear -- the momentum is in our favor.  New
Jersey recently abolished the DP, New Mexico will probably do it in March
and Maryland may be close behind.  We're making progress and one reason is
that people are stepping up and letting their elected representatives know
that times have changed -- the old "hang-'m-high" justice is no longer just
and no longer justified.

So, at the risk of cluttering your already overburdened in-boxes, I'm going
to be a bit more insistent, forwarding requests for action.  I will make 2
promises.  First, a limit of 1 per week, 2 if it is urgent.  Second, I won't
ask you to do anything that I haven't already done.  This is the legislative
session and an abolition bill has been introduced.  So at stategic times
we'll really need you to make a phone call.

Here's my first request. There is an abolition bill before the House
Jurisprudence comm.  We need to get a hearing and that will require putting
pressure on the comm. members.  If you know any friend of our cause in the
following cities, please ask them to call their representative to encourage
their represenative to hold a hearing on HB 682:
    Alpine: Pete Gallego (Chair), D     Arlington: Paula Pierson, D
Center: Wayne Christian (Vice Chair), R    Dallas: Terri Hodge, D, Allen
Vaught, D, & Carol Kent, D    El Paso: James Moody, D
    Houston: Debbie Riddle, R & Hubert Vo, D
    Mesquite: Robert Miklos, D
    Tomball: Allen Fletcher, R
 Thanks for your help.  It will not be easy or fast, but we will abolish the
death penalty, even in Texas.
Rich
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