The only impediment to the repeal of the death penalty is the will of the American voters, so that is where you should direct your outrage.
I beg your pardon?
> the will of the American voters
"A 2010 poll by Lake Research Partners found that a clear majority of voters (61%) would choose a punishment other than the death penalty for murder." (deathpenaltyinfo.org)
And between 1967 and 1977 not a single person was executed in the whole US, independently of the possible will of some states. The Eighth Amendment from 1791, the visible public disapproval and stuff.
And please tell where you've found any "emotional pleas"? Edit: or even "outrage"?
Alaska, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, District of Columbia