Death penalty law is made in Topeka and Washington, D.C., but opponents in Lawrence have set their sights on City Hall.

They want the Lawrence City Commission to pass a resolution calling on the state and federal governments to end executions of convicted criminals. More than 700 people have signed a petition urging the city commission to action.

“I think if cities get involved and take a stand, it can serve as an impetus to help the state decide to do that,” said Susan Tabor, a Lawrence member of the Kansas Coalition Against the Death Penalty and petition signee.

But commissioners are skeptical.

“My feeling is that this is not a city issue,” Mayor Sue Hack said. “We’ve got our hands full with things pertaining directly to the city of Lawrence, and this is not an issue we are involved in.”

Illinois Gov. George Ryan declared a moratorium on executions in his state in 2000, citing concerns that innocent people were being put to death. His action helped spark a movement to call on other states to make similar moves; Lawrence death penalty opponents say that more than 50 cities across the United States have passed such resolutions.

Lawrence resident Clark Coan started the current petition drive more than a year ago. He has since handed the project over to the Kansas University Green Party, whose members have teamed with the university’s Amnesty International Chapter to continue gathering support.

“It’s going to take a lot of grassroots effort,” said Amanda Harrison, co-coordinator of KU Greens. “It’s kind of one of those momentum things. You start the ball rolling, then it hits state government, national government and so on.”

A spokesperson for Gov.-elect Kathleen Sebelius did not comment on the issue. Douglas County Dist. Atty. Christine Kenney also declined comment, noting her office is pursuing capital murder charges against Damien Lewis, accused of the July slayings of George “Pete” Wallace and Wyona Chandlee.

Kansas reinstated the death penalty in 1994 but has yet to put anyone to death. Seven convicts in the state face the death penalty.

Some death penalty opponents say they believe the process needs to be fixed – minorities and the poor make up a disproportionate share of those executed, they say – while others say the death penalty is wrong no matter how it’s imposed.

Either way, they must convince city commissioners they’re right.

“Legislators pay attention to things like cities saying, âÂÂ’We’re against it,'” said Chris Crandall, a KU associate professor of psychology who favors a moratorium.

Organizers say they will wait at least until April’s city commission election to take action. Even commissioners who don’t like the death penalty, though, sound reluctant to act.

“It’s just not on the radar of day-to-day municipal issues,” Commissioner Mike Rundle said.

“I’m not interested in the commission taking the lead,” he said. “If petition drives and a majority of Lawrence churches favor it, then we’re simply a vehicle for expressing public sentiment.”