DOVER, Del. (AP) - Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is lending his voice to an effort to repeal the death penalty in Delaware.
Richardson, who as governor signed a bill repealing New Mexico's death penalty, visited Legislative Hall on Thursday to call for a Delaware House vote on repealing the death penalty.
A bill abolishing capital punishment in Delaware failed to gain enough support to clear the House Judiciary Committee last year after passing the Senate by a single vote.
Richardson's visit to Delaware follows one last week by Sister Helen Prejean, the Roman Catholic nun and death penalty opponent whose book inspired the movie "Dead Man Walking."
Delaware has 17 inmates on death row but currently does not have the necessary chemicals to carry out an execution if one were ordered.
