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."
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What a dumsh!t. Oh, he's a bleeding-heart liberal Democrat....figures.
It's so funny all those blaming the liberals considering the man who originally halted executions was a Republican. A nasty, doing prison time Republican even. Educate yourselves, folks!
Oh – and I'm a bleeding heart liberal who happens to support the death penalty.
I'd much prefer to be a bleeding-heart person like Jesus, than a bleating, heartless person.
What a maroon. I'm Republican, but I'm not a sheep.
@Cesar of 1:52: Hey, you are using my name. No, don't invade Libya, you're being silly. At least be in the right post pal. @Johnburger: So? Kill those killers for punishment. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
Bravo to the Governor for making a brave and bold move. I think it's been proven that capital punishment is not remotely a deterrent to anyone committing a crime. If it were, these horrendous crimes wouldn't be being committed & we wouldn't need to be having this conversation.
Hopefully more states will take notice and make their stand.
good, the death penalty is absurd and archaeic and in its current form, simply a drain on the economy.
Charlie, there is still life imprisonment. And there are way too many cases of overturned convictions for those sentenced to execution. I think the death penalty should be available, but it should be much, much harder to bring into play than it is now. Eyewitnesses can be wrong, but DNA testing, if done properly and double or triple checked, does not not lie.
No surprise here. The death penalty hasn’t been used in that state for over 10 years anyways. Has the death penalty stopped violent criminals like murders and rapists in states that use the death penalty extensively like Texas? Nope. Last time I checked there are new victims everyday there. The death penalty is just a show for "justice" to be served. Might as well put people on the old "Running Man" movie with Arnold. It has zero deterrent effect.
no: "No surprise here. The death penalty hasn’t been used in that state for over 10 years anyways. Has the death penalty stopped violent criminals like murders and rapists ... It has zero deterrent effect."
You do realize that criminal penalties generally don't serve one purpose, right? And that deterrence is often second in line to "justice" and "deserved punishment", right?
another disappointment from this communist commrade in charge.
Yes Bill, because communists hated capital punishment.
Congratulations to the State of Illinois. Most killers have no fear of God's or mans' laws and ignore any fear of the death penalty.
Entering Illinois: Free room and board for murders!
More states lead to follow your lead, Illinois!
Meant "need" to follow your lead.
- People who promote death penalty should see that all Europen countries abolished it – and have far few capital crimes
- People who say other countries have death penalty: right! China, Iran, Libya ...
- People who say some criminals deserve to die: Maybe, but the point is that it is impossible to have a system which safely determines who is such a criminal. So if the system errs, what do you say to the dead guy? Oooops, sorry?
- Ah, and people who quote the bible should read the new testament, not the old one. That's why it is cold "old", guys ..
As a conservative in Illinois I say, WELL DONE GOVERNOR QUINN!
First of all, it cost taxpayers MORE to put an inmate to death, and secondly, there have been INNOCENT people that have sat on death row before being exonerated, and third, human life expires on Our Lord's terms, not our own. "Vengenence is mine, I will repay" says the Lord our God. We as a society have the RIGHT to keep dangerous persons out of our midst, but we do NOT have the right to decide death.
Executing a killer won't bring back the victim (BUT LETTING HIM LIVE WON'T BRING THEM BACK EITHER1) Toast 'em.
It's absurd that a government has a law that allows it to legally kill its citizens. Good job illinois
Agreed, murat!