tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29488869.post6446417565842492577..comments2023-09-06T01:36:44.050-07:00Comments on Journey of Hope...From Violence to Healing Blog: Illinois: Death penalty abolishedUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29488869.post-31601421055488465052011-03-10T09:58:29.513-08:002011-03-10T09:58:29.513-08:00Full happy interview with Richard Dieter here:
ht...Full happy interview with Richard Dieter here:<br /><br />http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=54792www.deathpenaltyinfo.orgIllinois Governor Signs Bill Ending Death Penalty, Marking the Fewest States with Capital Punishment Since 1978<br /><br />Posted: March 09, 2011<br /><br />Illinois Governor Pat Quinn took the final step today in ending the death penalty and replacing it with a sentence of life without parole. The law also requires that state funds used for the death penalty be transferred to a fund for murder victims’ services and law enforcement. The ban on capital punishment comes after an eleven-year moratorium on executions declared by former Republican Governor George Ryan, and makes Illinois the 16th state to repeal the death penalty. It also marks the lowest number of states with the death penalty in more than thirty years. The Illinois repeal is an indication of a growing national trend toward alternatives to the death penalty, and an increased focus on murder victims' families and the prevention of crime. In light of our current economic climate, the public has increasingly recognized that resources used for the death penalty could be diverted to higher budgetary priorities, such as law enforcement and victims’ services. Many murder victims’ families were among the strongest supporters of the Illinois repeal and the high costs of the death penalty were influential in the passage of the repeal.<br /><br />So glad my computer made it back in time to see this today!CNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10877484524704475807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29488869.post-66907775838492472912011-03-10T09:39:34.467-08:002011-03-10T09:39:34.467-08:00Awesome! Praise God!Awesome! Praise God!David L. Gray, M.A.T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16751819626279009458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29488869.post-4272616033595372622011-03-10T07:46:41.374-08:002011-03-10T07:46:41.374-08:00I would like to thank Gov. Quinn for his couragous...I would like to thank Gov. Quinn for his couragous decision to abolish the death penalty in Illinois. I have stood outside the gates of Statesville for several executions and I am happy that I will never have to do that again.<br /><br />If all people would study this issue as Gov. Quinn did, I am sure they would come up with the same decision. <br /><br />This is a great victory for human righs. 4 states in 4 years to abolish is fantastic. Montana, Connecticut, Colorado and several other states are close to repeal. <br />Step by step good people step by step.<br /><br />Congratulations IllinoisBill Pelkenoreply@blogger.com