"I have Carr family murder victims in my district.

I am not hearing from anyone else.”

Those were the words Board Chair Donna Schneweis heard in a legislative visit this year.

This statement highlights the critical importance of contacting legislators and letting them know you want the Kansas death penalty ended.

If you took action last month and contacted your Senator and Representative, thank you! And, whether you did or not, now is a great time to be in touch with them.

Legislator contact is especially important NOW as committees work bills as they approach their first legislative deadline later this month. It is a time when committees can suddenly face amendments that deal with matters which weren’t included in the prior bill or its hearing.

Your message to a legislator need not be long. It can be as simple as

• It is too costly.

• With the death penalty we run the risk of executing an innocent person.

• The death penalty harms victim families.

• I don’t want the state killing in my name.

• We can have public safety without a death penalty.

A few simple lines in your own words ensures that the legislator knows that YOU, THEIR CONSTITUENT, wrote the message.

You can use the KCADP action platform to contact your legislators. It will identify who represents you in the Kansas Legislature and make sure they get your communication.

We have some opening language in the draft email so all you need to do is write 2 or 3 sentences why YOU want the Kansas death penalty repealed.

Don’t let your legislator be able to say they aren’t hearing from constituents on the death penalty!