The Immorality of the death penalty / John Simmons.

Retired Lutheran minister and current President of the Burbank Human Relations Committee, John Simmons speaks about the death penalty shortly after a stay of execution was issued for Robert Alton Harris. Simmons argues that the death penalty is immoral and should be outlawed. Most murders occur between people with close relationships in a moment of passion or panic, and are possible because there are too many guns in the United States. The death penalty is also racially descriminatory. Simmons predicts that the Supreme Court under Rhinequest will increase the number of crimes that will receive the death penalty. But the death penalty brings out the most brutal aspects of human nature. Support for the death penalty, however, only points to the failure of the criminal justice system, with people looking for scapegoats. The solution is to address the disperaty between rich and poor, not seek revenge against the unforturnate.|THE IMMORALITY OF THE DEATH PENALTY / John Simmons. - Retired Lutheran minister and current President of the Burbank Human Relations Committee, John Simmons speaks about the death penalty shortly after a stay of execution was issued for Robert Alton Harris. Simmons argues that the death penalty is immoral and should be outlawed. Most murders occur between people with close relationships in a moment of passion or panic, and are possible because there are too many guns in the United States. The death penalty is also racially descriminatory. Simmons predicts that the Supreme Court under Rhinequest will increase the number of crimes that will receive the death penalty. But the death penalty brings out the most brutal aspects of human nature. Support for the death penalty, however, only points to the failure of the criminal justice system, with people looking for scapegoats. The solution is to address the disperaty between rich and poor, not seek revenge against the unforturnate. - RECORDED: 22 May 1991.