Rep. Ayanna Pressly introduces bill to abolish the Federal Death Penalty

[LongTomH]

CBS News: Rep Ayanna Pressly introduces to abolish Federal death penalty after DOJ reinstates it:

Just after the Department of Justice reversed a 16-year rule banning the use of capital punishment, Democratic Rep. Ayanna Pressley said the death penalty has "no place in a just society." In response, the Massachusetts congresswoman is introducing a bill that would reverse the action and abolish the death penalty altogether.

While short on details, the bill aims to "prohibit the imposition of the death penalty for any violation of Federal law, and for other purposes." It's the latest piece of legislation introduced by Pressley, a member of the so-called "squad" of progressive Democratic congresswomen, that directly counters the Trump administration.

"The same racist rhetoric coming from the occupant of the White House, who called for the execution of the #Exonerated5, is what led to this racist, vile policy," Pressley tweeted, remarking on Mr. Trump's past claims that the wrongly convicted "Central Park Five" should face the death penalty for their alleged crimes.

"It was wrong then and it's wrong now. The cruelty is the point - this is by design," she added.

Pressley tweeted out an image of the bill. It states, if enacted, "no person may be sentenced to death or put to death on or after the date of enactment of this act for any violation of federal law." It notes that those who were sentenced before the bill's enactment should be re-sentenced for their crimes.

We can expect McTurtle to prevent this bill from reaching the floor of the Senate; but, it can be reintroduced after 2020 (Hopefully!).

[democratisphere]

1. The Death Penalty should be abolished.

The state should never execute it's own citizens.

[mr_lebowski]

2. I'd bet my life that Turtle wouldn't let it come to the Senate floor ... pun intended ...

At least not if he thought there was ANY WAY it could pass.

Not even sure it would pass the House TBH, but for SURE ... it's not getting thru the Senate.

[USALiberal]

3. It is terrible we still execute people. Not a deterrent to murders!! nt