Sen. Russell Feingold (D-Wis.) on Thursday introduced a measure to ban the death penalty at the federal level.

“I oppose the death penalty because it is inconsistent with basic American principles of justice, liberty and equality,— Feingold said in a statement, noting that the abolishment of capital punishment in New Mexico “adds to the growing momentum behind ending the death penalty in this country.—

“It is truly unfortunate that we are in a shrinking minority of countries that continue to allow state-sponsored executions,— Feingold added.