Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn announced Wednesday that he has signed legislation eliminating the death penalty in his state, more than 10 years after the state halted executions.
"Fellow citizens, we cannot escape history," Quinn (pictured), a Democrat, told reporters in making the announcement.
Illinois conducted its last execution in 1999. Then-Gov. George Ryan halted executions in 2000, after a series of death row inmates were exonerated. Quinn said his review had convinced him that it was impossible to administer capital punishment without mistakes, and abolishing it was "the right and just thing."
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
The death penalty is weak and the easy way out. If Someone I know was murdered I would not want the person responsible to get death! That ridiculous and an easy way out for them. I would prefer they are stuck in a small cell the rest of their lives.
If there is no doubt, like with the guy in AZ and the other at Ft Hood, execute. We shouldn't have to spend money to keep these idiots under lock and key.
Never understood proponents of the death penalty. Typically they have a huge distrust of government, yet they are prepared to give government the ultimate power – to kill it's citizens.
There is no disputing the fact that the death penalty is NOT a deterrent. So is the DP about revenge? Do we want justice to be about revenge? Anti DP people such as myself aren't suggesting letting people go free, but rather give them long, harsh sentences.
To all the proponents of the DP – make a list of the countries that have the DP, and another list of those that do not. Then ask yourself, "which list would I rather live in?".
YAY! That is great. I am all about only God having that right. No human should have the right to administer the death penalty. Life in prison is the best approach: especially since there is more torture in life in prison; so it is a win-win.
Eye for an eye
What can you expect from a POS state like Illinois, A lot of DEMOCRAPS live there I think its excellent. Now all the Criminals and Killers can move into THEIR COMMUNITIES and play with their kids and mothers and maybe the real threat to our freedoms and security (The DEMOCRAPS) will become EXTINCT!!! Good job, RETARDS!!!!!
I'm a conservative Christian and registered Republican. It's idiots like you that give us a bad name. Please go away.
Interesting train of thought, Texas. You sound like a one car train.
I'm from Joliet, home of one of the finest prisons in the country (tongue-in-cheek), and I wouldn't mind DNA proven death sentences. What bothers me is the cost of room and board for the general gang banging population, hopeless moronic thieves, bank robbers, padarasts, scam artists, swindlers, and mobsters.
The Death Penalty system is a broken one especially in California where it takes upwards of 20 years more before someone is put to death. They are more likely to die from natural causes than to be executed. They might as well just leave them in prison for life without parole since this is the case.
Why do people think that prison is all gravy? I see so many comments about...free food, free tv...free this...the only free that counts is FREEdom and when you lose that...no amount of other "free" stuff makes up for it. I wouldn't care if they gave me free EVERYTHING...being in prison is hell pure and simple. So for all of you who think it's walk in the park...try it...I dare ya...just for one week...and I'll bet you'll change your tune about all the so called "free" goodies prisoners are provided...
If there is any DNA evidence, of course it should be used...but what about the states who routinely deny the appeals of those who are *asking* that the DNA be tested in the first place? Texas comes to mind. The argument they're using is that they were convicted by a jury based on evidence presented, in some cases faulty eyewitness testimony, prosecutorial misconduct, etc. *This* is why the DP was abolished in Illinois.
Seems to me you don't just stop removing people from this world just because you found a couple guys innocent, instead... you change the rules to be more strict on determining "guilty beyond a doubt". After all, there are some murderers who are definately guilty beyond a doubt and deserve the same rights they gave their victims.
@Sam I Am
Yes you are definitely more stupid than most people, are you that stupid that you think that the reason Texas has more murders per 100,000 people than Minnesota is because that Texas have a larger population? One thing is for certain and that is if people were to be executed for having a low intelligence you would be one of the first to go, I bet it is even measurable. That Governor is a very brave man given how many bloodthirsty people this country have.
Hey, folks, DNA evidence is disregarded all the time...OJ, anyone?
May the good LORD bless Governor Pat Quinn and the State of Illinois. The Evangelium Vitae implies that capital punishment should be rare. I agree that only GOD can judge and man is fallible and does not have the capacity to righteously judge in the matters of taking a life. How fitting an annoucement on ASH WEDNESDAY.
Doing away with the death penalty is the wrong thing to do. once a person is convicted of a crime worhy of the death sentence, and it is irrefutible, then that person should get to live in a cell at tax payers expense until the next person is convicted to take his/her place. why should someone who has no regaurd for human life, get to go to college, get free medical, dental, and eveything else, honest hard working people may not have access to. no one made them choose to commit such crimes, it was a choice by them. If we cannot put them to death, then put them all on an island, and let them fend for themeselves – with no help for mthe outside world. For those who say it is cheaper to house them for life then put htem to death, remember this, a 30' peice of rope is only about 50 bucks, and it is recyclable!
But the evidence is not always "irrefutable". Hence, the moratorium...duh...