Maryland Abolition Takes Another Step Forward

Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley has announced, via a Washington Post article among other places, that he intends to personally sponsor a death penalty repeal bill and will “do ‘everything in [his] power’ to abolish capital punishment in Maryland.”

This doesn’t mean ending the death penalty in Maryland will be easy, but a serious investment of that kind of political capital into an issue can only be helpful.  And the Governor’s personal support comes after the Maryland Commission on Capital Punishment issued its final report last month, which also recommended abolition.  In the General Assembly, by most accounts, the votes are there, except in the Senate Judicial Proceedings committee, where it fell just one vote short two years ago.

The Commission report clearly illustrates the problems with Maryland’s death penalty (problems which are common to all the other capital punishment states).  The Commission concluded that the death penalty in Maryland is racially and geographically biased, more costly, and not a deterrent.  The Commission also found that the death penalty was more harmful to victims’ families than the alternatives and that there is a “real possibility” of executing an innocent person in Maryland.

Maryland has had only 5 executions in 30 years, and there are only 5 men currently on Maryland’s death row, so you have to wonder:  what is it death penalty supporters are clinging to?  As Senate President and death penalty supporter Mike Miller suggested to the Post:  “When you’re middle-aged, your mind is pretty much set on issues like this.”  It appears that Governor O’Malley is determined to change at least a couple of those minds.

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2 thoughts on “Maryland Abolition Takes Another Step Forward

  1. I think it is wonderful that you oppose law enforcement people inflicting the death penalty on people. We should only let people who know who must be killed to do the killing. I call them Godplayers. They are the ones willing to go to homes and destroy families. They are the ones that exterminated over 3000 on 9/11. They are the ones that want to destroy Israel and the United States. They are the ones with the courage to strap bombs to their bodies, walk into a marriage ceremony where hundreds of people are having a wonderful time, and blow themselves and dozens of men, women, and children up. I'm so happy you want to allow them to carry out their actions without the warning rough interogation of prisoners at Gitmo might present to prevent them from carrying out their holy acts. I know I don't know who should live or die. But at least you see the wisdom in allowing Godplayers to make the tough choices involved in extermination of people. Why should the authorities do the job Godplayers do? So keep up the good work. I'm sure there are millions of Americans that Godplayers shoud exterminate in nuclear and biological attacks and you'll be at the forefront that we should thank for the destruction of lives that must be eliminated by Godplayers.

  2. I think it is wonderful that you oppose law enforcement people inflicting the death penalty on people. We should only let people who know who must be killed to do the killing. I call them Godplayers. They are the ones willing to go to homes and destroy families. They are the ones that exterminated over 3000 on 9/11. They are the ones that want to destroy Israel and the United States. They are the ones with the courage to strap bombs to their bodies, walk into a marriage ceremony where hundreds of people are having a wonderful time, and blow themselves and dozens of men, women, and children up. I’m so happy you want to allow them to carry out their actions without the warning rough interogation of prisoners at Gitmo might present to prevent them from carrying out their holy acts. I know I don’t know who should live or die. But at least you see the wisdom in allowing Godplayers to make the tough choices involved in extermination of people. Why should the authorities do the job Godplayers do? So keep up the good work. I’m sure there are millions of Americans that Godplayers shoud exterminate in nuclear and biological attacks and you’ll be at the forefront that we should thank for the destruction of lives that must be eliminated by Godplayers.

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