N.M. House Votes to Abolish Death Penalty

[Rose Siding]

SANTA FE, N.M. -- The New Mexico House voted Monday to abolish the state's death penalty and replace it with a sentence of life in prison without parole.

The bill passed on a vote of 38-31 and advanced to the Senate.

Death penalty opponents expect a close vote in the Senate. Gov. Bill Richardson, who would have to sign the bill for it to become law, supports the death penalty.

Monday's vote marked the first time a repeal bill has passed either the House or the Senate in New Mexico. Five Republicans joined 33 Democrats in voting for the repeal. Twenty-three Republicans and eight Democrats voted against it.

New Mexico is one of 38 states with capital punishment.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-brf-new-mexico-death-penalty,0,5115680.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. kick

[Celeborn Skywalker]

2. Good

Let's hope this passes!

[rox63]

3. YAY!!!

:bounce: :toast:

[Dogmudgeon]

4. Well, smack my ass and call me Karla Fay!

The tide is turning.

I can only hope that it washes the dead whale carcass that is Neo-Conservatism out to sea.

--p!

[Warpy]

5. the DP is barbaric

and few will miss it in this state.

I think only one man has been executed since the 60s, and he was convicted of raping and murdering a little girl.

I agree with the Talmud on the DP. It states that a state death any more often than once in 7 years (70 years in some interpretations) is tyranny.

I have seen only one DP case in my lifetime, and that was Ted Bundy. He had escaped from custody TWICE and continued his killing spree.

And yes, I am a survivor. A close family member was murdered. I never wanted the perpetrator dead, just locked up. He eventually died in prison.

[sundancekid]

6. this one is worth a close watch since Richardson is already "running"

toward what seems to be a bid for 2008 (even though he is up again for Governor in 2006) ... Go, NM -- show us you are really the Land of Enchantment!

[CTLawGuy]

7. I hope Richardson

doesn't pull a "Shaheen"

I refer to Fmr. NH Gov. Jeanne Shaheen who, in a most cowardly fashion, vetoed the repeal of the state's death penalty...

said repeal was passed by the state's REPUBLICAN-controlled legislature with the rationale that since it was never used, the state should not have it on the books.

This was conveniently 1-2 years before her unsuccessful attempt to run for the US Senate.

[burrowowl]

8. Keep one's fingers crossed

KICK!

[BrendaStarr]

9. Go for it!

That sounds great!