Connecticut governor signs death penalty repeal

Associated Press

(CBS/AP) HARTFORD, Conn. - Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has signed legislation into law that abolishes Connecticut's death penalty for future crimes.

A spokeswoman said the Democrat signed the bill Wednesday afternoon at a private ceremony with lawmakers, clergy and family members of victims.

Malloy called it "an historic moment" as Connecticut joins 16 other states that have abolished capital punishment. He said it was a moment "for sober reflection, not celebration."

The bill was signed the same day that a new Quinnipiac University poll showed 62 percent of Connecticut voters support the death penalty. The same survey found 47 percent of voters disapprove of Malloy's handling of the issue, while 33 percent approve.

A former prosecutor, Malloy said his position on the death penalty has evolved over the years.

The legislation only abolishes the death penalty prospectively; it won't affect the 11 men already on death row, including Steven Hayes and Joshua Komisarjevsky, the two men convicted in the killing of Dr. William Petit's family,  the Hartford Courant reported.

Last year, strong public sentiment for Petit, whose wife and two daughters were brutally murdered in 2007, prevented the bill's passage.

Lawmakers struck a compromise that ensures those currently convicted of a capital felony will get life imprisonment without possibility of release, not death.

But the bill does not apply to those 11 awaiting the death penalty.

[AmericanMomma]

I'd like for everyone that commented on this article to re-comment now after today's events. You probably have a slightly different view than you did back in April. There's a reason there is a death penalty in the south; to rid them of complete sickos like the one that murdered a bunch of children today. If he hadn't died, I'd have hoped he DID get the death penalty.

[audemus]

If the death penalty is a deterrent to murder, then why does the region of our country which has the most executions, (South), also have more murders per capita than any other region of the nation ?
Obviously knowing that you might very well get the death penalty in this part of the country is not a huge consideration before someone decides to take someone elses life.

"We kill people to teach people that it's wrong to kill people."

[audemus]

If the death penalty is a deterrent to murder, then why does the region of our country which has the most executions, (South), also have more murders per capita than any other region of the nation ?
Obviously knowing that you might very well get the death penalty in this part of the country is not a huge consideration before someone decides to take someone elses life.

"We kill people to teach people that it's wrong to kill people."

[anonymous010]

Repealing the death penalty is a mistake. While I personally believe that no one is beyond redemption or rehabilitation, we have simply not yet figured out how to rehabilitate some of those people. Considering that these sorts of people are likely only going to commit their crimes again if they are released or if they escape, executing them is the safest course of action. We can abolish the death penalty once we no longer need it. Doing so before that day comes is merely reckless.

[bigmanfrommaine]

I wish people would stop using words like socialist, radical, fascist, retarded and the like to describe people who do not agree with them. Reading these comments (which my wife tells me i should not do) makes me truly fear for this country. We disagree, we should be able to be respectful and have a sensible and logical discussion about our differing ideas. This goes for those on the left as well as the right. We can be passionate in our beliefs and still be civil to our fellow Americans.

[newsterrrr]

Malloy called it "an historic moment" as Connecticut joins 16 other states that have abolished capital punishment. "

Oh yeah.. what a "momentous" occasion- protecting the CRIMINALS and telling even the most sadistic evil murderer that the very worst that can EVER happen to them, even if they shoot 50 people in a mall some day, is they stay in jail with 3 hots and a cot.

[Smokey75]

by Phxfire April 26, 2012 6:45 AM EDT
I hope all the naive and confused people who think it's either okay to execute an innocent person or believe we never have, will finally stop posting their uncredible and mostly false rhetoric. Life in prison isn't lenient.
========================================================================================================================================

It is funny hearing the loony left make the argument against the death penalty by saying there is a chance an innocent life might be taken.

Yet that same left loon is all for abortion which kills an innocent life every time it is performed. It must the very confusing to be a left loon.

[slatep]

Evidently; Malloy has joined the ranks of many politicians in this country who couldn't care less about the preferences of the people who voted him into office.

Just one more ego-maniac among the many "serving" the people of the United States today.

Life without the possibility of parole does not neccessarily think what you think it means.

There is a program called "The First 48" on a cable network.

Almost every show deals with real people who have committed one or more murders.

Usually; at the end of the show there is a statement that the person charged with the crime is innocent until proven guilty.

HOWEVER; sometimes the person has been convicted and sentencenced to life without parole.

This is followed with a statement that the person will not be eligible for parole until 20??.

To me; this makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

While this does not guarantee the criminal will be paroled in 20??; it does allow for the possibility this person will be out on the streets at some point in time and could re-offend.

One of the main reasons persons convicted of felonies are walking the streets; long before they should be; is plea bargaining.

No matter how horrendous the crime (child molestation is the most frequent) these pedophiles are allowed to plead guilty to lesser charges in return for lighter sentences.

Charles Manson was sentenced to life without parole, but every so often he gets to appear before a parole board to explain why he feels it is now safe for him to return to a life among the public.

None of this makes any sense.

In certain instances "if you can't do the time; don't do the crime" really does apply and the full sentence should be carried out.

[violist47]

The death penalty has never worked as a deterent. It certainly did not
deter the rape and murder of the Petit family.

[katnaper]

He signed it because he doesn't care that 62% of the voters want the death penalty option.

[Phxfire]

Perhaps he signed to end the execution of innocent inmates since dozens have already been exonerated in the past few years. Perhaps he realizes, with other civilized and throughtful people, that we have already been guilty of executing the innocent. Perhaps he signed it because it's the correct action until guilt can be proven with no doubt in 100% of death penalty cases, so we don't commit legal murder.