People argued passionately for both sides of the death penalty debate during nine hours of testimony in front of the House Judiciary Committee.

More debate is expected Wednesday as Colorado lawmakers deliberate whether or not to abolish the death penalty in the state. Two bills are up for debate: a proposal to ask voters whether or not the death penalty should be repealed, or a bill that would abolish it outright.

Some who lost loved ones to devastating murders said Tuesday that the practice would do nothing to bring them closure. One father went a step further and testified that he did not wish to have his slain son's name connected to the death penalty.

"My son’s life was about love and life…so please don’t saddle my son’s name with the death penalty,” said Bob Autobee. His son, a corrections officers, was beaten to death by an inmate 11 years ago.

Others pleaded for lawmakers keep the death penalty in place.

"Today I sit before you asking you to not put the justice of my brother at risk," said Maisha Fields-Pollard, whose brother and future sister-in-law were gunned down to prevent them from testifying at a murder trial.

The committee delayed a vote on the bill, but say it will still happen later.

Right now three men are on Colorado's death row, but if this bill passed, it would not apply to them, because it won't affect current cases.

That includes the Aurora theater shooting case.