Woo-hoo! New Jersey has emerged from the cave and abolished the death penalty. I'm taking this liberal victory as a sign that there are more good progressive things on the immediate horizon. After all, the White House and other high seats of power will soon be fumigated and rid of the toxic Republican "pro-life" killing crowd.
Ike over at tcask weighs in: "Nationally, there is momentum growing for death penalty foes . . We here in Tennessee are proud of the work of New Jersey's abolitionists and will continue to strive forward. As indicated . . we are in the thick of this national abolition trend."
The Tennessee Coalition to Abolish State Killing has more.
The New York Times Editorial Board is happy too:
It took 31 years, but the moral bankruptcy, social imbalance, legal impracticality and ultimate futility of the death penalty has finally penetrated the consciences of lawmakers in one of the 37 states that arrogates to itself the right to execute human beings.
This week, the New Jersey Assembly and Senate passed a law abolishing the death penalty, and Gov. Jon Corzine, a staunch opponent of execution, promised to sign the measure very soon. That will make New Jersey the first state to strike the death penalty from its books since the Supreme Court set guidelines for the nation’s system of capital punishment three decades ago
. . . Their renunciation of the death penalty could prick the conscience of elected officials in other states and inspire them to muster the courage to revisit their own laws on capital punishment.
At least that is our fervent hope.
THE DEATH PENALTY ART SHOW graphic, "Jury Selection - Death Penalty" by Keith Amante via the Texas Moratorium Network
Abolition News Death Penalty Politics State Killing New Jersey Progressive Victory
