This declaration is a "walk your talk" sorta statement for folks who claim opposition to the death penalty. I don't remember the exact date, but I remember my college comrade Sethe and I strolling into the City Hall of Berea, KY and asking the nice woman behind the counter to notarize our signed copies of our respective declarations. She read over them and, to our surprise, commented, "huh, that seems like a neat idea." We should have left her an extra copy.

Anyway, if you're against the death penalty, I recommend signing one of these, having it notarized, and distributing it to your loved ones. It not only demonstrates your commitment to the sanctity of life, but is an interesting conversation starter. And of course, in the unfortunate circumstance that you are someday murdered...

A Declaration of Life

I, the undersigned, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, do hereby in the presence of witnesses make this Declaration of Life,

I believe that the killing of one human being by another is morally wrong.

I believe it is morally wrong for any state or other governmental entity to take the life of a human being for any reason

I believe that capital punishment is not a deterrent to crime and serves only the purpose of revenge.

THEREFORE, I hereby declare that should I die as a result of a violent crime, I request that the person or persons found guilty of homicide for my killing not be subject to or put in jeopardy of the death penalty under any circumstances, no matter how heinous their crime or how much I may have suffered. The death penalty would only increase my suffering.

I request that the Prosecutor or District Attorney having the jurisdiction of the person or persons alleged to have committed my homicide not file or prosecute an action for capital punishment as a result of my homicide.

I request that this Declaration be made admissible in any trial of any person charged with my homicide, and read and delivered to the jury. I also request the Court to allow this Declaration to be admissible as a statement of the victim at the sentencing of the person or persons charged and convicted of my homicide; and, to pass sentence in accordance with my wishes.

I request that the Governor or other executive officer(s) grant pardon, clemency or take whatever action is necessary to stay and prohibit the carrying out of the execution of any person or persons found guilty of my homicide.

This Declaration is not meant to be, and should not be taken as, a statement that the person or persons who have committed my homicide should go unpunished.

I request that my family and friends take whatever actions are necessary to carry out the intent and purpose of this Declaration; and, I further request them to take no action contrary to this Declaration.

I request that, should I die under the circumstances as set forth in the Declaration and the death penalty is requested, my family, friends and personal representative deliver copies of this Declaration as follows: to the Prosecutor or District Attorney having jurisdiction over the person or persons charged with my homicide; to the Attorney representing the person or persons charged with my homicide; to the judge presiding over the case involving my homicide; for recording, to the Recorder of the County in which my homicide took place and to the recorder of the County in which the person or persons charged with my homicide are to be tried; to all newspapers, radio and television stations of general circulation in the County in which my homicide took place and the County in which the person or persons charged with my homicide are to be tried; and, to any other person, persons or entities my family, friends or personal representative deem appropriate in order to carry out my wishes as set forth herein.

I affirm under the pains and penalties for perjury that the above Declaration of Life is true.

WITNESS

_________________________

_________________________ printed name

DECLARANT

_________________________

_________________________
printed name
_________________________
Social Security Number

STATE OF ____________________)

COUNTY OF __________________)

Before me, a Notary Public in and for said county and state, personally appeared the Declarant and acknowledged the execution of the foregoing instrument this_______________day of ______________ 20___.

WITNESS my hand and notarial seal.

__________________________
NOTARY PUBLIC

__________________________
Printed Name

My commission expires: ___________________ County of Residence:______________________

Please send a copy of this notarized form to: Cherish Life Circle, Convent of Mercy, 273 Willoughby Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11205

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The Friends Committee to Abolish the Death Penalty is a nationwide coalition of Friends concerned with capital punishment. The purposes of the Committee are to: 1) advocate for the abolition of the death penalty, 2) foster communication and support among Friends throughout the country, 3) encourage increased activism in Friends Meetings, and 4) nurture the process of victim-victimizer reconciliation in the light of God's love.

The FCADP publishes a quarterly newsletter, THE QUAKER ABOLITIONIST. For more information, email to: FCADP@aol.com Last modified: Mon May 14 11:14:58 EDT 2001