The death with dignity bill passed the House of Delegates today, 74-66.

I was prepared to speak, but my voice was not needed.

From the notes I made during the debate and the speech I gave in my mind, I would have said:

“This is a tough vote.

It is also a profound vote.

Nonetheless, the vote each of us casts today pales in comparison to the choices that people make at the end of their life.

This legislation is the product of five years of public debate.

It will not force anyone to end their life.

It will protect an individual’s ability to reach an outcome he or she chooses.”

My use of the word “profound” has great significance for me.

I speak of my work to repeal the death penalty as the most profound thing I will ever do.

I rarely use the word in any other context.

The first call I made after today’s vote was to Steve Sachs, a former Attorney General of Maryland.

Steve testified for this bill several years ago.

The bill is named for Richard Israel, an Assistant Attorney General whom Steve knew well.
I worked with Steve on death penalty repeal.

When I got back to my office from the floor vote, there was a message from Kirk Bloodsworth.

Kirk was on Maryland’s Death Row, but DNA evidence freed him.

I worked with Kirk on death penalty repeal as well.

For me, that is a profound sequence of events.