[via https://secure.aclu.org/site/Advocacy]

I urge you to oppose the Gang Deterrence and Community Protection Act of 2005
(H.R. 1279). This legislation would dramatically expand the use of the death
penalty and could result in the conviction of innocent people on broadly defined
"gang-related" charges.

Capital punishment leaves no room for error on the part of the legal system, and
little opportunity for reform on the part of the criminals to whom it's applied.
Combined with legal judgements that are not infallible, HR 1279's expansion of
capital punishment risks increasing the number of innocent people awaiting
execution for crimes that they never committed.  In addition, its prescription
of mandatory minimum sentences deprives judges of the ability to impose
punishment appropriate for the particular crime and perpetrator.  Again, I urge
you to oppose the Gang Deterrence and Community Protection Act (HR 1279).