More governors need to take the courageous step that Governor John Kitzhaber took this week. Telling Oregonians he's still haunted by the two executions he approved during his earlier terms as governor, he declared an end to capital punishment for the duration of his term on Wednesday.

Via Common Dreams:

Calling Oregon's death penalty scheme "compromised and inequitable," the Democratic governor said Tuesday he'll issue a reprieve to a twice-convicted murderer who was scheduled to die by lethal injection in two weeks. He said he'd do the same for any other condemned inmates facing execution during his tenure in office. "I simply cannot participate once again in something that I believe to be morally wrong," the governor said in uncharacteristically emotional remarks during a news conference in his office. "It is time for this state to consider a different approach," he said.

It's time for all states to consider a different approach, not just Oregon. This was not an easy choice for Kitzhaber, but he made it with a conscience apparent.