Posted on 02/08/2007 12:22:59 PM PST by Princip. Conservative
A House committee voted Wednesday to abolish Colorado's death penalty and use the millions spent battling death-row appeals to solve 1,200 unsolved killings. The 7-4 vote in the House Judiciary Committee ended nearly four hours of testimony by family members demanding justice for loved ones whose deaths remain unsolved.
Meanwhile, top law enforcement officials argued that House Bill 1094 offered a "red herring" choice because lawmakers could both fund cold-case units and maintain the death penalty for the most heinous murders.
The bill moves to the Appropriations Committee, but its chances of final passage are iffy. Gov. Bill Ritter, a former district attorney, opposes it, spokesman Evan Dreyer said.
--- snip ---
Rep. Amy Stephens, R-Monument, joined most Republicans on the panel in saying that revoking the death penalty was a profound change that should be left to Colorado voters to decide on a ballot measure.
Rep. Debbie Stafford, R-Aurora, a counselor who has worked with both victims and offenders, said she believes the criminal justice system needs changes.
"I think that it's time we shake up our system," she said.
Colorado Attorney General John Suthers cited the case of an inmate already serving a life sentence who then kills a guard.
"The social contract demands the response" be a greater punishment than saying "we're going to take away your television privileges," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at rockymountainnews.com ...
Fortunately, the state's Democratic Governor and Republican Attorney General oppose the law, but, yuck, Colorado is becoming a weird place.
The Left has always been pro criminal.
That is what got Rudy elected in the liberal city of NYC. The left had been so pro criminal for so long that the city had a real crime problem, and Rudy came in and made the city safe again.
Fixed
The Republicans cannot survive as an exclusively Southern party.
Regards, Ivan
"The Republicans cannot survive as an exclusively Southern party.
Regards, Ivan"
Stay cool. I know this but the GOP is still doing pretty well in the region. Don't forget that the Northeast has a few Republican governors, too. For instance, Rhode Island, Vermont and Connecticut. So does the South for that matter (TN and OK) and it doesn't mean the end (and California, too!). I agree that we've taken some really big hits the past couple of elections in Colorado but it's not game over in the region just yet. Indeed, states like Utah, Idaho, Wyoming and Alaska are overwhelmingly GOP. Even in Montana this year, the GOP did surprisingly well in state legislative and senate races, winning back control of the house and the senate, too, if a RINO hadn't flipped.
All is not lost. Don't let one election make you give up.
Will this include child abortion?
How many has CO executed this year?
Hang the Dim Colo Panel!
>Bo)
Personally, I've never understood why so many conservatives are in favor of the death penalty. I don't trust the government with 10 bucks, let alone with the power to kill. All the problems with our legal system, yet some people are so willing to trust it with literally life and death situations. Amazing.
I think the system should change so the killers get zapped quicker.....
I actually perfer banishment instead of the DP.,....banishment would be long, cold, lonely with constant mental anquish, which is soothing to me in the case of people like Ted Bundy....
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
"The new Governor will veto it. Colorado's Dems can't wait to show how Lefty they are. San Fransicko has migrated to Denver. And I live here in a couty named for a GOP Senator!"
I know. Colorado has definitely been trending in a way that's not favorable of late. Even still, it's not unwinnable and this liberal nonsense could blow up in the Dems' faces.
If the GOP fails to take this gift and run with it, they are cowards and fools.
"If the GOP fails to take this gift and run with it, they are cowards and fools."
They sure better make use of the idiocy that Colorado Dems are pulling these days - all their pro-gay, pro-criminal nonsense. In November, even with a pro-Democratic electorate in the state, a pro-gay domestic partner benefit measure was defeated with nearly 53% of the vote statewide. It was supposed to pass slam dunk. Coloradoans are more conservative than their state Dim party.
When a horrid crime occurs against, against one of these pols, then the death penalty revision will be brought up again. The problem with the death penalty in the USA, is that it is never enforced in due time. Period.
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