Stop the Execution of Richard Moore in South Carolina

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Stop the Execution of Richard Moore in South Carolina

Governor Henry McMaster

In collaboration with

Richard Moore is scheduled to be executed in South Carolina on November 1, 2024 for the 1999 murder of James Mahoney while robbing a convenience store.

Find greater detail on this case on this South Carolinians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty petition. Action toolkit is here.

Richard Moore, who is now 59 years old, has been on South Carolina’s death row for 23 years. SC Supreme Court Justice Kaye Hearn filed a dissent in Richard’s case arguing that he is clearly not the “worst of the worst.” Other Justices argued that he is eligible for a death sentence because the murder was aggravated during what became an armed robbery.

Moore entered a convenience store in 1999 unarmed and intending to rob the place, but a fight soon broke out between him and the clerk, who had a gun, that resulted in James Mahoney being fatally shot.

Richard Moore gets to "choose" between being killed by lethal injection, the electric chair or the firing squad. Moore's death sentence was a disproportionate punishment compared to similar crimes.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston, which covers the entire state of SC, has spoken out saying that the scheduled execution is “modern-day barbarism” and that “respect for life is, and must remain unconditional. This principle applies to all, even the perpetrators of terrible acts.

Please sign the petition asking Henry McMaster to do everything within his power to stop this execution, including issuing a stay, and seeking a path to clemency in the case.

Petitions will be delivered on your behalf by our allies at South Carolinians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty on October 31, 2024.

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Death Penalty Action

To: Governor Henry McMaster
From: [Your Name]

We are writing to ask that you to stop the November 1, 2024 execution of Richard Moore for the 1999 murder of James Mahoney. This murder, while tragic, was not premeditated and is not among the "worst of the worst." Moore entered a convenience store in 1999 unarmed and intending to rob the place, but a fight soon broke out between him and the clerk, who had a gun, that resulted in James Mahoney being fatally shot.

We are concerned that while the vast majority of states with capital punishment continue on a downward trend of executions, South Carolina is going against the trend by attempting to carry out an execution, despite the fact your state has not done so in nearly 11 years.

We, the undersigned, ask that you do everything within your power to stop this execution, including issuing a stay, and seeking a path to clemency in the case.

Thank you for your time and attention to this serious matter.