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POLITICS: Massachusetts Governor to File Death Penalty Bill

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posted on Dec, 29 2004 @ 02:36 PM
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Calling his new bill a model for other states, Massachusetts, Governor. Mitt Romney is hoping to introduce capital punishment to his state. The bill narrows the death penalty to very specific and heinous crimes. In addition it requires the use of DNA testing where applicable. Democrats are already lining up against the bill with some stating it is impossible to be 100 percent sure a person is guilty.

 



story.news.yahoo.com
BOSTON - Hoping to bring capital punishment to Massachusetts, Gov. Mitt Romney is preparing to file a death penalty bill early next year that he says is so carefully written it will guarantee only the guilty are executed.

Based in part on the findings of a death penalty panel he appointed, the bill would limit capital punishment to the "worst of the worst" crimes including terrorism, the murder of police officers, murder involving torture and the killing of witnesses. It also would use evidence such as DNA testing to protect the innocent.


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Im not sure why anybody would oppose this. It even sets up a commission to look at the evidence, changes a reasonable doubt language to no doubt and the like. Given that the Democrats seem to be caving in on the abortion issue, and are waffling on others in an effort to get more votes, how long before they drop all death penalty opposition all together? This bill would address almost everything people have complained about the death penalty.



posted on Dec, 29 2004 @ 02:48 PM
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As a resident of Massachusetts, I back this bill 100%

About time



posted on Dec, 29 2004 @ 02:53 PM
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Originally posted by FredT
. It even sets up a commission to look at the evidence, changes a reasonable doubt language to no doubt and the like. Given that the Democrats seem to be caving in on the abortion issue, and are waffling on others in an effort to get more votes, how long before they drop all death penalty opposition all together? This bill would address almost everything people have complained about the death penalty.


I really like the sound of this bill. With all of the overturned convictions brought about by various groups like the Innocence Project it is definitely time to reexamine the death penalty and give it a long overdue tweak.

While the "no doubt" provision is a huge standard to overcome before condeming someone to death - IMO it is a better than the current standard of reasonable doubt. Yes, people like Scott Peterson wouldn't be put to death. (personally, I'd love to see him in general population rather than on death row anyway) But I don't believe people should be given the death penalty when they are convicted by circumstantial evidence. Let's attempt to remove all doubt before executing someone.

Kudos to Romney on his bill.

B.



posted on Dec, 29 2004 @ 03:26 PM
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The opposition seems to be lining up against it in Mass already, but the bill seems to adress alot of the issues that people have brought up in a variety of death panalty debates that we have had here on ATS.



posted on Dec, 29 2004 @ 04:56 PM
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Not a fan of Death bills in general, but this one seems better than the current.



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