The current proposal to reinstate the death penalty in Iowa is nothing new. The death penalty is an issue that seems to be debated every couple of years in Iowa. There have been four proposals in the state legislature to reinstate the death penalty since 1991.

The difference is, this time the topic is being introduced packaged with the threat of terrorism. Unfortunately for death penalty supporters, terrorism is not an easy sell as a reason to reinstate the death penalty in this state. Sen. Gene Maddox, R-Clive, is sponsoring two senate study bills pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee. One bill would broaden Iowa’s definition of terrorism, while the other combines the new definition with reinstatement of the death penalty. The idea stems from the New York Legislature’s special session for the purpose of expanding the scope of the state’s death penalty.

This is another example of the fear of terrorism used as a way to push a larger issue in society. And it wasn’t that hard to figure out.

The bill is packaged with buzz words like “terrorism” and “Sept. 11.” Hard to argue with those these days. Terrorism is even defined in the bill as meaning “the killing of another person to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, or to influence the policy of a unit of government by intimidation or coercion, or to affect the conduct of a unit of government.”

Whether or not a person favors the death penalty as a viable option for horrible crimes, this is the wrong way to start a discussion of bringing it back to Iowa. Terrorism is just not the way to change the punishment of the death penalty in Iowa.

As Sen. Johnie Hammond, D-Ames, so wisely said, the death penalty is not going to stop terrorism in the United States.

“I’m not convinced that the death penalty is a deterrent for these people who planned [the attacks],” she said.

Generally speaking, the people who commit terrorist attacks, like flying planes into buildings, obviously aren’t that concerned about the possibility of dying for their cause. Actually dying for the cause might be part of their plan. So reinstating the death penalty won’t prevent future terrorist attacks.

But the death penalty question really comes down to the people of Iowa. And so far it seems that the people of Iowa want to continue to be in the minority and not have the death penalty. In a poll posted on Maddox’s Web site, only a quarter of the respondents (417 of the 1,654) were in favor of reinstating the death penalty. Sure, this is a very unscientific poll, but support for the death penalty hasn’t been overwhelming in the past either.

There is nothing wrong with bringing up the death penalty debate. For some it is seen as a viable option for heinous crimes. For others, it is an unnecessary loss of human life that doesn’t deter crime.

But the problem lies in using terrorism as a way to push the issue into discussion.

editorialboard: Andrea Hauser, Tim Paluch, Michelle Kann, Zach Calef, Omar Tesdell, Charlie Weaver