The State College Borough Council decided in a 5-2 vote last night not to take any action on passing a proposal that would show the council's support for a two-year moratorium, despite a community push to come to a decision.

If the council supported the proposal then it would be used to put pressure on the state government that could ultimately put a two-year halt on executions. The time period would be used in order to investigate Pennsylvania's current capital punishment system. Similar proposals have been passed in Philadelphia, Harrisburg, York and Erie.

"This is not an abolition argument we are trying to make," Douglas Grane, Amnesty International chapter president, said.

Taking action on the moratorium is a non-binding mandate, Grane said.

"We feel this is a very important issue and we hate to see Borough Council sit on the fence," he said.

However, the council felt they could not vote on the issue because they were unsure of where their constituents stood.

"I am not going to take action on this because I don't think it represents the borough — phone calls I have received told me this," said council member Richard McCarl.

But residents and students thought the population would be represented if the council did pass the resolution.

"Though many of you are opposed to the death penalty, you weren't sure the community was," resident Reed Smith said. "Well, may we examine the audience."

Reed pointed to the meeting room seats that held more than 100 people.

Council members were also unappreciative of how they have been approached on the moratorium subject.

"I don't appreciate the 'when did you stop beating your wife' approach," council member Jean McManis said.

Many council members said they are opposed to the death penalty and would individually sign a petition supporting the moratorium.

"The mayor supports the idea of a moratorium," Mayor Bill Welch said.

The audience was unsatisfied by this statement.

"It's a cop out mayor, it's a cop out," said resident Mike Sletson.

The groups involved with pushing the moratorium along say they are not going to be deterred by this decision.

"They haven't heard the last of us," Courtney Kirschner, Penn State ACLU vice president, said.

She added they will pursue the issue on every level, including protests and petitions.

Justin Leto, of the newly-formed Student Party, said the council has violated its charter by not taking any type of action on the proposal.

"Maybe there's some loophole, but the charter states when 2 percent of the registered voters bring a petition to borough council then borough council is forced to take action," he said.

Leto said more than 2 percent of State College citizens did sign a petition supporting the moratorium.