New Mexico Abolishes Death Penalty

[kpete]

Source: Amnesty International

New Mexico Abolishes Death Penalty!
Death Penalty, United States | Posted by: Brian Evans, March 18, 2009 at 8:09 PM

Tonight, a little after 6 PM mountain time, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson signed into law a bill abolishing the death penalty in his state. After weeks of publicly wrestling with the issue (he had in previous years been a supporter of capital punishment), and after several days of widely soliciting public comment - a hotline the Governor’s office set up resulted in calls coming in 3-1 in favor of abolition - the Governor agreed to strike capital punishment from the books (though the law is not retroactive, and the fate of the two men who currently occupy New Mexico’s death row is unclear).

New Mexico becomes the 15th state in the U.S. to outlaw capital punishment. Curiously, it is also the third “New” state in a row to be moved into the abolitionist column. New York’s death penalty was declared unconstitutional and its death row closed in 2007, and New Jersey abolished its death penalty legislatively, also in 2007. The only remaining “New” state – New Hampshire – will be having a House floor debate on death penalty abolition on Tuesday, March 24, though in that state, the Governor is not wrestling with the issue at all (at least not publicly), and is unlikely to support any repeal bill.

New Mexico becomes the first Southwestern state to end its experiment with the death penalty. Until now, abolition has been confined to the Northeast and Upper Midwest (plus Alaska and Hawaii). Like its fellow “New” states, New Mexico rarely used its death penalty (only 1 execution since 1960 – the other “New” states never did carry out an execution after reinstating their death penalties after 1976). Other states that fit into this pattern include New Hampshire (no executions since 1939), and Kansas (no executions since reinstatement). In both these states, vital abolition efforts are ongoing. Other states where abolition debates are heating up (Colorado, Montana, Nebraska )have carried out 1, 3 and 3 executions respectively, and Maryland has only carried out 5.

Read more: http://blog.amnestyusa.org/deathpenalty/new-mexico-abol... /

[BlooInBloo]

1. WOOT!!!!!

[Warpy]

2. YES!!!

Thank you, Governor Richardson, for doing the right thing.

It's not like it's that great a loss to the right wing and vengeful, the DP has been used only once since 1961 in this state.

I am a survivor of the murder of a family member. I have always been against the death penalty.

[emmadoggy]

3. Yay!

Thanks, Governor Richardson. It's the right choice.

[Jefferson23]

4. Better late than never! Excellent!

[superconnected]

5. Good for them.

[wellstone dem]

6. Good news

yet another move in the right direction.

[Zhade]

7. YES! Sanity!

NT!

[Turbineguy]

8. Now they can

invite George W Bush for a nice visit.

[rasputin1952]

9. K&R...

[MannyGoldstein]

10. Welcome To Civilization

We're mighty glad you came.

[silverojo]

14. Too bad the murderers' victims aren't around to celebrate with us - n/t

[MannyGoldstein]

18. Of Course. But Killing Doesn't Make Things Better. n/t

[silverojo]

15. Too bad the murderers' victims aren't around to celebrate with us - n/t

[silverojo]

16. Too bad the murderers' victims aren't around to celebrate with us - n/t

[Psephos]

11. Excellent!

[ButterflyBlood]

12. Congratulations to New Mexico

The newest member of a club my state has been in for almost a century.

[silverojo]

13. Too bad he keeps killing innocent people

By not posting enough signs to warn motorists about the dangerous curves on the interstates and highways all over his state. Seriously, I've never seen such a thing in my life, and I've done a lot of driving.

Would that he cared about motorists' safety as much as he does about coddling murderers and rapists.

Yes, I'm pro-death penalty. I'm also pro-safety for people who haven't committed crimes. I guess I'm just weird that way.

[NM Independent]

17. How about this...

PAY ATTENTION!

Yeah, Bill Richardson is a big P.O.S. because of the poor road signage. He should freaking resign!

Gimme a damn break, and learn how to drive without being coddled by signs. Idiot.



Oh, and considering we've only executed 2 people in, like 50 years, I don't think he's "coddling murderers and rapists."

[raptor_rider]

19. Great, now Bobby Fry can repeal his death sentenance

and probably get paroled in a few years for killing 4 people in the 4 corners area. Just dandy!

[Mr. McD]

20. Richardson Abolishes N.M. Death Penalty

Source: 2009 The New Mexico Independent

SANTA FE — Tonight, Gov. Bill Richardson signed his name to a law that abolishes the death penalty in New Mexico, saying, “This has been the most difficult decision of my political career.”

With his signature, Richardson made the Land of Enchantment the 15th U.S. state to ban capital punishment and pushed it into the worldwide community of states and nations that have abolished the death penalty, including many countries in the European Union.

Read more: http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/03/19

[Warpy]

21. Reported last night

but it's nice to read again.

NM is a strange state, which is why I moved here instead of somewhere else.

[DU9598]

22. Thank you Governor!

[Ryano42]

23. Woohooo!

A round of Tomasita's Sopapillas for everyone!

[LaurenG]

24. Wonderful ! Kand R nt

[DustyJoe]

25. What Timing

The trial just started for the guy accused in the shooting deaths of 3 teenagers in 1999. He can now sigh in relief that he only faces life with possibility of escape with the NM prison system. I am sure that the parents of the 16 yr old paraplegic shot in the car with his wheelchair in the trunk and no where to run from this a-hole shooting him are just thrilled. Some times even the death penalty seems to not even be enough for this type of crime. Just my opinion. Viva nueva mehico.

[treestar]

26. Good sign

That the US might consider joining the modern world again.