Arnie Alpert Speaks Against Death Penalty on NH Public Radio

AFSC’s New Hampshire Program Coordinator, Arnie Alpert, was a guest on New Hampshire Public Radio’s “The Exchange,” hosted by Laura Knoy, on September 7, 2011.  The topic was the history of debates over the death penalty in New Hampshire.

Arnie, who also serves on the Board of the NH Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, said the death penalty doesn’t provide any greater deterrence than lengthy imprisonment, costs more than alternatives, and does nothing for the loved ones of homicide victims.   He also said the fact that the one person sentenced to death in New Hampshire in recent years is a black man convicted of killing a white man fits into the racist tracks the death penalty has left nationwide.   The state’s religious community has been united in speaking out for abolition, he said.   In short, the death penalty is a great example of an ineffective and expensive government program that should be eliminated.

Appearing with Arnie on the show was Representative John Tholl, a retired police chief and long-time state legislator from Whitefield.  

 You can listen to the show from links on the NHPR web page.