Megan and Linell Smith (Hillsborough, NC and Harrisonburg, VA) lost their father and step mother to murder and lost a cousin to terrorism on 9/11. In their own words this is why Megan and Linell oppose the death penalty:

Terry and Lucy Smith, Linell and Megan Smith's father and step mother, lost their lives on Sept. 6, 2001 when they were woken in their home, tortured, and murdered by Lucy's adopted teenage son Michael, as well as some of his friends. One of these friends is currently on death row. A few days later a second blow came when Linell and Megan found out that Bob Elseth, their cousin by marriage, was killed in the Pentagon building where he worked, during the terrorist attacks of 9/11.

Our definitions of justice and healing did not match those of the newspapers or the court system. To think that yet another person would die and another family would suffer is haunting, and is something we want no part in. Death does not equal justice and does not promote healing, nor will it honor the ones we lost.

Learn more North Carolina families touched by murder and execution who oppose the death penalty.