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RALEIGH – Family members who have lost loved ones to murder held a news conference in front of the General Assembly Monday afternoon to voice support for the Racial Justice Act.

They want lawmakers to approve the bill, which could help convicted murderers avoid the death penalty if they believe race played a role in their conviction or sentencing.

"The only son I had in this world was taken away from me at 19 years old," Charlotte resident John Jennings said. "If anyone should have been bitter, and wanted the full maximum of a death penalty for anyone, it would have been me."

The group said although they support punishment, they want to make sure sentencing and conviction is appropriate.

"Who did the crime must do the time. We're not saying you shouldn't do the time. We're just saying it needs to be fair," Andre Smith said.

But Rep. Paul Stam, R-Wake, said the law is fair, and inmates can already appeal their conviction and sentencing if they have evidence of racial discrimination.

"I think it is almost unconscionable to use a bogus claim of race to try to stop the death penalty in the case of first-degree murder," Stam said.

He said if the bill is passed, it would basically amount to a three- or four-year moratorium on the death penalty while death row inmates try to use the new rule to appeal their sentence.

"Each of these cold blooded murderers gets an extra three or four years before paying for their crimes," Stam said.