We, the undersigned, as those who advocate for life, urge you to respect the sanctity and dignity of humanity by ending Ohio’s death penalty. We believe that life is the most precious and most fragile gift and therefore should be protected by our leaders in Columbus.

We are committed to a consistent life ethic that affirms life begins at conception and ends in natural death. The death penalty, in both theory and in practice, directly contradicts the idea that life is precious and ends in natural death.

This does not mean we oppose accountability for those who have committed serious crimes—we hold deep empathy for victims and their families. But we also believe that every human life, regardless of the circumstances, is worthy of protection. No method of execution, and no effort to “fix” Ohio’s broken death penalty system, can change the fundamental truth: the death penalty is the intentional taking of a human life.

The time for Ohio's legislature to repeal the death penalty and uphold the sacred nature of human life is now. We call on the Ohio General Assembly to pass legislation to end this practice and secure Ohio’s place in history as a life-affirming state.