Truce - History of the Christian Church Republicans and Evangelicals: The Death Penalty
Oct 21, 2025
In this insightful discussion, Maurice Chammah, a staff writer at The Marshall Project and author of "Let the Lord Sort Them," dives into the history and resurgence of the death penalty in America. He explores how public fear during the crime wave of the 1970s revived interest in capital punishment and how influential figures, such as Ronald Reagan, advocated for its more humane implementation. Maurice reveals the significance of the Supreme Court's Furman v. Georgia ruling and examines the racial disparities in capital sentencing, particularly addressing the NAACP's efforts to expose these injustices.
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Son Of Sam And The Hijacking Spike
- In 1977 David Berkowitz, the Son of Sam, terrorized New York before his arrest changed public fear into outrage.
- John Wigger recounts the 140 U.S. hijackings from 1968–1972 that shifted public tolerance for violent crime and security measures.
Decline In Use Reduced Support
- Opposition to the death penalty grew after WWII and dropped as executions became rarer and seemed irrelevant.
- Maurice Chammah explains that the less the penalty was used, the less people felt they needed it.
Furman Spotlighted Randomness
- Furman v. Georgia centered on whether the Eighth Amendment forbids arbitrary death sentences and highlighted procedural flaws.
- The case argued juries lacked guidance, making death sentences random and discriminatory.
