California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced March 13 that he is granting reprieves for all 737 death penalty murderers on California’s death row, calling the death penalty “ineffective, irreversible and immoral.” He then signed an executive order putting a moratorium on the executions of the inmates currently incarcerated in California’s death row, sparing the lives of murderers and rapists. Twenty-four of those on death row have exhausted their appeals, and were eligible for execution under Newsom’s administration.
Victims’ Rights groups and families of murdered loved ones were livid, and said they felt victimized all over again.
Marc Klaas, the father of 12-year-old Polly Klaas, who was brutally raped and murdered in 1993 by Richard Allen Davis, said it was even worse than just re-victimization, in an interview and video with the California Senate Republican Caucus. Klaas said Gov. Gavin Newsom invited Klaas and six other families invested in victims rights to the Capitol to discuss creating some kind of balance for crime victims. But, Klaas said one hour into the meeting, the governor duped all of them when he shockingly announced that he was going to declare a moratorium on the death penalty.
“I had no idea that was coming,” Klaas said. “That came out of nowhere.”
Klaas said the only reason he and the other families were in the meeting with Newsom “was so he could say I told them before I made the announcement.”
“Did I feel like I was being victimized again? Are you kidding me?” Klaas said. “After spending 25 years with the expectation that the sentence would finally be carried out on Polly’s killer, to have the governor kind of look me in the eye and say he was declaring a moratorium… I can’t be the one to execute 700 people.”
Klass said, “the death penalty is now all about Gavin Newsom and what a wonderful guy he is for sparing these poor men who just didn’t get enough hugs from their moms and dads when they were little kids.”
Polly Klaas was having a slumber party in 1993 at her Petaluma, Ca home, when a strange man holding a knife entered her bedroom, tied up all the girls and put pillow cases over their heads. The intruder then kidnapped Polly, raped her, killed her, and discarded her body off of the side of the freeway hidden under a piece of plywood. Her body was not found for two months.
Californians have voted for the death penalty eleven times since 1972, including three times in the last seven years. In 2016 when Proposition 62 was passed to expedite the executions of the inmates currently sitting on death row, it was intended to be a remedy to the most heinous criminals sitting on death row for 30 years, with endless appeals delaying justice and costing taxpayers hundreds of millions – and to ensure no innocent person was executed. Opponents sued, taking the case to the California Supreme Court, which upheld voters’ decision, but watered down a part of the initiative. The Court stated that provisions requiring the state to speed up the death penalty appeals process were directive, rather than mandatory.
You can watch the video interview of Marc Klaas on the Facebook page of the California Senate Republican Caucus.
View Comments (24)
'Klaas said, “the death penalty is now all about Gavin Newsom and what a wonderful guy he is for sparing these poor men who just didn’t get enough hugs from their moms and dads when they were little kids.”'
BINGO.
I don't think you're wonderful, Mr. Newsom, I think you're arrogant and cruel.
Thank you Katy. God Bless Marc Klaas
Mr. Newsom needs to feel what it is like to be dark kidnapped, force raped, and cruelly brutalized before he puts his and his constituents’ “feel good” modus operandi in front of justice. Call me a hater.
I detest the Pelosian/Newsomian self serving, pocket stuffing hypocrisy. They hate anyone who stands up to them. They forget, they are in office to serve you. You are the boss. Not the other way around. And yet they dine.
SPEAK UP PEOPLE!
I agree!! This decision to take away the death sentence from that evil monstrous human being [ and I say human lightly} just to ease HIS conscience is abominable in my opinion. This same man who stole Polly out of the safety of her own home. Raped her and then murdered her not to mention his actions in court to the Klaus family and friends!!!!! Unspeakable reptile of a man. This makes my blood boil :((. Put him in GP!! Let him get what’s coming to him ????????????
Hello,
Early August 2, I watched the Paula Klass story on Court TV.
I looked online to see if the murderer of Paula was put to death. I could not believe it. This bastard is still alive. What is wrong with Gov. Newsom? I thought of writing to Mr. Klass, but I decided not to stir the pot. Thank you for sharing.
I think he is probably guilty himself of doing the same thing should look into him and his background these men who didn't get enough hugs turn into murderers and that cannot be helped but as adults they know what's right and wrong and he knew darn well that he was doing wrong that's why he hid her otherwise he would have done it right there on the street and then walked away as if he didn't do nothing wrong he needs worse than what he did to Polly getting three meals a day and being locked up that's punishment well maybe isolation is punishment but he probably doesn't know that he's being punished because he is ignorant and a murderer. This is asinine thumbs down to the governor. They say killing babies is okay babies are Innocent but they spare the lives of murderers is so freaking backwards
Discusting ! Terrible I'm AUSTRALIAN ! you poor USA Victims of these 737 murderers on death row ALL these years , the usa Dudicial system is a utter mess . & id Vote your Wimpy Govenor out of office !! ill say no more as you get the picture ( Poor Mr Klaas ) just one of many duped .
I'm confused. The State of California continues to spiral down instead of up. Obviously, their seems to be some other
INCENTIVE for murders to be pardoned from death.
Gov Newsome is turning California into a total shithole.its full of homeless,tent citys,human waste,needles and now released murders.way to go gov,your showing the whole world how to destroy a beautiful state.i quess this is the norm for the democrates
Actually during Arnold Swartzeneggers rule as Governator there thousands of homeless people, tent cities, needles and they also shat on the sidewalks in Santa Monica. California because a shithole state beginning with Jerry Brown father. The Democrats are just making sure that their state becomes a greaterr shithole than it was when Brown was governor
You have never traveled,all big cities in America have homeless,go to Austin,Phoenix
Gov Newsome must be a wannabee murderer/rapist himself. Why else would he coddle murderers and rapists unless he idolizes them.
I am from California and I blv all 737 should already have died...... Polly is one of many who have died scared and alone .... Poor girl only 12 and her mom and dad had to lay there baby to rest .... God bless them and pls kill the sick pricks all 737 of them
I agree with you.
I am actually praying for divine justice. Covid-19 has now infiltrated San Quentin, where Davis is being held. Covid-19 results in people not being able to breathe. He stole Polly Klaas's air when he strangled her. My prayer is that God will afflict DAVIS with what he inflicted on that 12 year old child. And you wouldn't find me shedding a tear if Mr. Newsome should suffer a bout of Covid-19 too. "An eye for an eye, tooth for tooth, life for life."
I agree with you 1000 %
Karen Reid . I agree with you. I hope Davis dies a slow painful death. And Gov. Newsome you are a liar, any man that sleeps with his best friend's wife ( his campaign manager at the time) is a piece of shit. I hope you wise up soon and do the right thing. End the life of the Death row scum . No one will miss any of them.
Signed ,Corina
I hope they put him and the others to death they should not been able to sit on death row for thirty years and they should not be able have thiety years of appeals put them to death
Hello,
Early August 2, I watched the Paula Klass story on Court TV.
I looked online to see if the murderer of Paula was put to death. I could not believe it. This bastard is still alive. What is wrong with Gov. Newsom? I thought of writing to Mr. Klass, but I decided not to stir the pot. Thank you for sharing.