Victims’ relatives divided on ending death penalty

(From the latimes.com) Past California governors joined with crime victims Tuesday to announce their opposition to a proposal to end the death penalty, while a second set of victims said ending capital punishment would give them closure.

Former Gov. Gray Davis joined Pete Wilson and George Deukmejian at a news conference in Los Angeles, a key battleground for the campaign opposing Proposition 34, which would replace capital punishment with a sentence of life without parole. Alluding to the conclusion by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office that Proposition 34 could save the state as much as $130 million a year, Davis said the measure “has nothing to do with economics — and everything to do with justice.”

“When it comes to keeping California safe, voters should ask themselves, who do they trust?” Davis said.

In opposing Proposition 34, Davis said he was standing with law enforcement and “the families of crime victims who have suffered incredible pain at the hands of violent criminals.”

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