State Assemblywoman Audra Strickland (R-Thousand Oaks) has partnered with families of murder victims, local prosecutors and members of the Legislature to oppose legislation that would needlessly halt the death penalty in California for three years.

“A death penalty moratorium will only delay justice for crime victims and their families,” said Strickland. “Don’t believe anyone who tells you this moratorium is temporary; this moratorium is a part of the larger agenda to end the death penalty in California.”

Marc Klaas, father of murder victim Polly Hannah Klaas and executive director of the KlaasKids Foundation, said creating new delays in the death penalty process would only add to the suffering of victims’ loved ones.

The Assembly Public Safety Committee was to vote on AB 1121, a bill by Assemblymembers Paul Koretz (D-West Hollywood), and Sally Lieber (DMountain View), that would put a three-year moratorium on capital punishment in California.

“This week, liberals advocated for a moratorium on the death penalty. Next week, their agenda will be an end of the death penalty altogether,” said Strickland.

Assembly Republicans Todd Spitzer, Jay La Suer, John J. Benoit, Bonnie Garcia, Bob Huff, Doug LaMalfa, Bill Maze, Dennis Mountjoy and Roger Niello also demonstrated their support for victims and their families at a recent event. They were joined by Republican Sens. Charles Poochigian and Bill Morrow, as well as Sacramento County District Attorney Jan Scully and California District Attorneys Association Executive Director David LaBahn.