HARRISBURG – Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41) today issued the following statement in response to Governor Shapiro’s announcement that he will not issue any execution warrants during his term:
“For us to learn of Governor Shapiro’s position on the death penalty only minutes before it was announced on his Twitter account is a rash approach to an issue of this magnitude. Any changes to close access to an element of punishment must appropriately consider the families of murder victims and the critical perspective of law enforcement.
“Protecting our society while implementing meaningful criminal justice reforms have been ongoing priorities for the Senate Republican Caucus, and we will continue to engage in criminal justice reform discussions this session. Without question, the legal and ethical aspects of the death penalty warrant careful examination before being used.”
MEDIA CONTACT: Kate Eckhart Flessner, kflessner@pasen.gov