>>>>Do you understand WHY Illinois has abandoned capital punishment? Did you read the article?
>>>>
>>>>Yes, I read it. And in cases where there is some question as to guilt, even after a conviction, I'm fine with life in jail. If the person is later proven not guilty (which rarely happens, but I acknowledge it does occur), you can release the person, you can make restitution, etc.
>>>>
>>>>But where there's zero question as to guilt (e.g. the case in Florida with the mother and BF beating the hell out of a 3 year old), I say strap them in the chair, shave their heads, attach the electrodes, and let them ride the lightning.
>>>
>>>298 men and women were sentenced to death in Illinois in the past 25 years. Of those, 18 have been exonerated — a rate of 6%.
>>>
>>>So are you trying to tell me that of those 18 that didn't do the crime that there was some question as to their guilt at the time they were sentenced to death? Obviously a jury or judge thought that there was "zero question" as to their guilt - and needless to say they were wrong. ...and I don't think a rate of 6% (that we KNOW of) is what I would consider "rarely". Furthermore a rate of .00001% when you're killing the guy isn't good enough.
>>
>>That is exactly why Gov. George Ryan suspended death sentences. It's about the only good thing he ever did for this state. He is currently in the hoosegow (corruption), following the example of several of his predecessors.
>
>One of his quotes - " We have now freed more people than we have put to death under our system,"
>At the time, Illinois had executed 12 people since the re institution of the death penalty in 1977. Pretty messed up huh?
>
>>I am really envious of you being in Hawaii today. Spring is very slow in arriving here. Most of the snow is gone but the daily highs are barely making it into the 30s. We spring ahead this weekend, that should take care of the whole problem ;-)
>
>It actually does snow on the Big Island....but not the one I'm on.

I spent three days of my honeymoon there. There was a billboard saying there are 16 climactic environments on earth and 9 of them exist on the Big Island. We mostly stuck to the sunshine ;-)