Illinois Poised to Abolish Death Penalty (State Senate Approves Ban)

[Hissyspit]

Source: Reuters

Illinois poised to abolish death penalty
Tue Jan 11, 2011 5:20pm EST

By Mary Wisniewski

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Illinois was poised to become the first state since 2009 to abolish the death penalty after the state Senate approved the ban on Tuesday and sent it to Democratic Governor Pat Quinn for his signature.

The Senate vote came after House approval late last week. The Senate vote was 32-25.

Illinois has not executed anyone for more than a decade after former Republican Gov. George Ryan imposed a moratorium on the death penalty in January 2000 following a series of revelations that people had been sent to Death Row who were later found to be innocent.

"We've had 20 innocent people on Death Row," said Jeremy Schroeder, executive director of the Illinois Coalition Against the Death Penalty. "It's time to be done with the moratorium and do the right thing."

Read more: http://us.mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70A6G920110111?ca=rdt

[IntravenousDemilo]

1. I find it amazing that murder is a State rather than a Federal offence.

And I find it equally amazing that a second-string, branch-plant level of government, that is, that of a mere state, is allowed to administer capital punishment. That should be reserved for the first-string, head-office level of government, the Feds.

Canada, like the United States, is a confederation of territories, but capital crimes (when there was such a thing here) have always been considered the purview of the Criminal Code of Canada. When we got rid of capital punishment, it was across the whole country.

[harmonicon]

8. It's both.

It has to do with where the murder happened, and who was murdered. Capital punishment is still wrong, but I don't see any point in caring about who is carrying it out.

[Jackpine Radical]

2. Welcome to the civilized world, IL.

WI hasn't executed anyone since gaining statehood, and we've done OK. You guys will too.

[Kurovski]

3. Good

Too many "mistakes" made.

However, I didn't blink an eye when Gacy went.

[defendandprotect]

4. Sanity returning to America? Remember, our Supreme Court did once acknowledge

death penalty to be UnConstitutional -- we need to get back to that kind of

sanity!!

Death Penalty is ONLY for infallible societies!! We are NOT infallible!!

[SecularMotion]

5. Illinois Bill Eliminating Death Row Is Approved

Source: NY Times

CHICAGO — After more than a decade of debate over whether the state’s system of capital punishment could ever be fair, state lawmakers voted on Tuesday to end the death penalty in Illinois.

The move, which came only hours before a new group of lawmakers takes office in Springfield on Wednesday, leaves the future of capital punishment to the Democratic governor, Patrick J. Quinn, who has not indicated whether he will sign the legislation. If Mr. Quinn agrees to the ban, Illinois will join 15 other states without capital punishment.

A heated, sometimes graphic debate preceded a vote in the State Senate, which is dominated by Democrats. Senator Kwame Raoul, a Democrat who led efforts to end death sentences, reminded his colleagues of the state’s record of at least 13 condemned prisoners, including one who came within 50 hours of execution, who were found to have been wrongfully convicted. Supporters of the death penalty, meanwhile, described heinous cases and said there were still some circumstances so intolerable as to require execution.

The Senate voted 32 to 25 to approve the ban. The State House, also controlled by Democrats, approved the measure last week on a 60-to-54 vote. But the future of capital punishment has been in question here for years.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/12/us/12death.html?_r=1&hp

[dhill926]

6. good........n/t

[IrishEyes]

7. Great!

I lived in Illinois for a few years. I really liked it there. I hope Governor Quinn signs the repeal soon.

[midnight]

9. Glad to hear it....

[Judi Lynn]

10. This is such great news. FINALLY. Thank you, Hissyspit. Rec. n/t