With worldwide eyes focused on New Hampshire's death penalty controversy, David Lamarre-Vincent '71 is hard at work with the New Hampshire Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.
Other states, as well as Amnesty International on the global level, are looking to New Hampshire to set a precedent for death penalty reform. If New Hampshire abolishes the death penalty with the bill that is currently pending in the House, it will be the first state of the 38 that reinstated capital punishment in the 1970s to throw away capital punishment.
In an effort to push forward abolition and reform, Lamarre-Vincent stresses the importance of combating ignorance on a day-to-day basis.
"The most powerful weapon we have is education," he told The Dartmouth. "Once people are made aware of the experience of the death penalty they almost always reject it as the ultimate punishment."
On Feb. 28, the 'Day of Action' will take place in Concord and statewide in an effort to promote understanding and education about the death penalty. In light of this upcoming event, Lamarre-Vincent said he strongly believes that students can make a significant impact.
The Day of Action will raise consciousness and spread awareness about the worldwide significance of the current death penalty debate in New Hampshire, as well as let people know how to take action at such a critical moment, Lamarre-Vincent said.
Lamarre-Vincent said, "When it comes to a vote, it is important and powerful for members [of the House and Senate] to receive a phone call or a postcard from constituents." He encourages young adults to speak up, pointing out that it was that very age group that led the charge to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. with a national holiday.
Lamarre-Vincent was a political bystander until it became a part of his job to track legislation. As a religious representative and a concerned citizen he decided to take action.
He wanted to find alternatives to the status quo. "We were looking for ways to have a more peaceful less violent society," he said.
Lamarre-Vincent strongly believes that opposition to the death penalty outweighs the support, and he thinks that anyone who understands the facts will feel the same way.
"Some people oppose the taking of human life," he said. "There are other people that oppose it because it simply doesn't work. Others, say no one is perfect and people make mistakes."
Currently, he said, cases are often decided on the basis of circumstantial evidence, which is sometimes followed up by additional investigations. Sometimes looking into cases further proves the innocence of the accused. Especially in light of new DNA testing technology, it is important that innocent people are not accidentally given the death penalty.
Supporters of the death penalty sometimes argue that the death penalty is cheaper than life in prison, which, according to Lamarre-Vincent, is not always the case.
He said one of the only viable claims made by supporters is that "It does meet out a portion of retribution and vengeance."
But research done by Lamarre-Vincent provides some startling evidence. "States that enforce capital punishment have a higher mortality rate than those that do not," he said.
Lamarre-Vincent speculated, "In a civilized society that is plagued by random and senseless violence [the death penalty] only perpetuates it further."
In order to gather support for the coalition, Lamarre-Vincent brought together the religious community, because as far as he knows, there is not a single religion that supports the death penalty.
Currently in New Hampshire, the bill that would repeal capital punishment awaits a vote in the House. The House committee will continue to accept written testimony until it votes on the bill, Lamarre-Vincent said.
According to Lamarre-Vincent, "It will be a close vote" when the House committee votes in early March.
He encourages students to get involved in the issues. "One thing undergrads can do is compare how heinous crimes are punished around the world, and think if it is appropriate in this country with its wealth to have people punished by the death penalty," Lamarre-Vincent said.
Furthermore, he said, "If you're from a state that has the death penalty you can be influential in turning the tide here and then stay involved for your state."
Lamarre-Vincent stresses that Dartmouth students can "provide the energy to get people elected or defeated." Students are voting citizens, and the success of legislators depends on the support of the voters.
"Making your opinions heard has a powerful impact. One member of the committee is leaning to personally support the death penalty, but has in the past voted to abolish it based upon feedback from his constituents," he said.
If the bill passes in the House and the Senate, it will go to Governor Jeanne Shaheen to be vetoed or signed. Although Shaheen has been a supporter of the death penalty, Lamarre-Vincent breaks from the norm, and said he thinks she may allow the bill to pass.
He told The Dartmouth, "It's more likely that she would allow it to become law and not pick up the pen to veto. She is a person that works with facts and looks at reality and moves methodically."
In fact, "I'm convinced that the governor would change her mind if she was presented the evidence and was given time to ponder the situation. But she does not confront the issue until after it leaves the Senate and House committees which have six to seven hours of testimony" Lamarre-Vincent said.
If the bill does not get passed the fight will not be over. Lamarre-Vincent assures, "If it's not this session it will be the next one."
