Dems want to scrap death penalty in California

[alp227]

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

The California Democratic Party is calling for abolition of the death penalty, defying conventional political wisdom and raising an issue that its candidate for governor might prefer to avoid.

Democratic leaders have previously passed resolutions opposing capital punishment, but the party says its records indicate it has never enshrined the position in its platform - the formal statement of its principles - until this year.

The platform, approved April 18 at the party's convention in Los Angeles, includes a declaration that Democrats will "replace the death penalty with a term of permanent incarceration, which will serve to protect the public, provide swift and certain justice for victims' families, and save the state an estimated $1 billion over the next five years."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/05/20/MN2J1DF46L.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

[slackmaster]

1. Too bad this truly fine idea is coming from a party rather than were it should be coming from

The legislature.

The DP as it exists in California is worse than meaningless. Besides the fact that a condemned inmate is far more likely to die of natural causes than to be executed, the endless appeals are costing us a bundle.

K&R

:kick:

[petronius]

2. Good. Let's hope they're equally diligent about turning that into law

I'm not morally opposed to the DP, but I'm unable to find any practical reason for keeping it, and plenty of reasons against...

[mvd]

3. Good; K&R

I think the country is very slowly heading in this direction. I changed on the DP years ago, though I was never a big DP supporter.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

4. It is probably pointless,

I support ending the death penalty, but it will just be restored by ballot proposition minutes later. As it has been before with Proposition 7 and 17.

[slackmaster]

5. Why is everything a fucking travesty with you, Walter?

You are probably right.

[laughingliberal]

6. K & R nt

[ShortnFiery]

7. Good. eom