`Life for Life' effort keeps up work for repeal.

Byline: GREG BOLT The Register-Guard

Supporters of an abandoned initiative to repeal the death penalty said Friday that they have not given up the fight and will wait for another day to push their measure.

Former U.S. Sen. Mark Hatfield told a crowd gathered for a conference on the death penalty at the University of Oregon that recent polls clearly show overwhelming support for capital punishment. He said people are too concerned about the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack and the ongoing recession to be ready to debate a death penalty repeal now.

"People are profoundly concerned about their home lives, they are fearful in this recession, they are suffering the aftereffects of Sept. 11, and they are more interested in maintaining the status quo than they are in considering a controversial issue," he said. "Now is not the time to ask Oregon voters to decide this issue."

Oregon has repealed the death penalty twice by popular vote - probably the only state in the country to have done so - and Hatfield said those efforts also took years of debate, petitioning and hard work before winning out. He said this time will be no different.

"Both times Oregonians ended the death penalty in our state, it was a lengthy process that included times of despair and failure," he said. "But those of us who believe the death penalty is wrong will carry on, will persevere. Our efforts and commitment will rise above the fear and hatred, and I think we can all find a better way of life."

Dave Fidanque, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon, cautioned those who support the death penalty not to assume the battle is over. He said Oregon voters have questions about the death penalty and are willing to consider replacing it with a constitutional amendment that substitutes a "true life" sentence.

Such a sentence, guaranteed life in prison with no opportunity for parole, was the goal of the "Life for Life" effort. Although polls show strong support for the death penalty, Fidanque believes voters will listen to the argument against it.

"There is a lot of discontent about the death penalty with Oregon voters. They are not comfortable with it," he said.

But others disagree. Joshua Marquis, district attorney of Clatsop County and a death penalty supporter, said it's clear that opponents of capital punishment have failed to muster much support in the state or in the nation.

"The fact is that despite the best efforts of the abolitionists, they've never been able to convince more than a third of the people that the death penalty is wrong," he said.