'It's A Sad Day': Elsinore Rep. On CA Death Penalty Suspension

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — A day after Gov. Gavin Newsom announced his plans to halt all executions for the remainder of his term, buying time for 737 condemned prisoners, the public and politicians are talking. Among those to offer her thoughts is Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez, who represents Lake Elsinore, Canyon Lake, Murrieta, Menifee, Wildomar and a portion of Hemet.

Melendez submitted the following statement to Patch:

“In 2016, California voters spoke loud and clear by not only rejecting an outright repeal of the death penalty, but by voting to expedite the executions of the inmates currently sitting on death row. The Governor clearly does not represent the majority of people in this state who want to see justice served for these heinous crimes.

“It’s a sad day for the victims’ families who will never see justice served for the loss of their loved ones who were taken savagely and prematurely. These were children, sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers – lives that were cut short by the brutality of their killers who are cop-killers, rapists, child abusers and sex-offenders.”

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• READ MORE HERE: All California Death Sentences Blocked By Gov. Newsom