Anti-death penalty movement tries to woo more financial, religious conservatives

Anti-death penalty movement wooing conservatives

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The anti-death penalty movement is working to recruit more conservatives, tapping those influenced by both politics and faith in an effort to build a stronger bipartisan coalition.

Roy Brown, a Republican nominated for Montana governor in 2008, is among those who have joined the anti-death penalty movement. He says the sanctity of life — an argument many conservatives cite against abortion — and the high cost of capital punishment make executions unacceptable.

And he hopes that will woo more of his conservative colleagues to the movement.

The push comes as more states look at abolishing the death penalty. Fifteen states have abolished capital punishment, including New Jersey and New Mexico, which took that step in 2007. And Kansas lawmakers are set to consider the matter later this month.

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On the Web: www.ncadp.org/