Legal Commentary

MT Senate Passes Bill Abolishing Death Penalty

By Jeralyn

Good news out of Montana: The state senate passed a bill abolishing the death penalty.

With a 27 to 23 vote, Montana State senators on Tuesday approved a bill that would abolish capital punishment. Montana is one of 36 states that currently has the death penalty and bill sponsor, Democrat Dave Wanzenried of Missoula, hopes that will change. His bill would replace the death penalty with life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The reasoning: [More...]

“Life without the possibility of parole, on the other hand brings about an immediate sentence: life in prison without the possibility of parole, away from the public eye no publicity.”

Wanzenried says the death penalty is not a deterrent to murder and cited neighboring state North Dakota having a lower homicide rate with no death penalty.

The bill has passed its third reading in the Senate and now goes to the house. Montana currently has two inmates on death row.

[hat tip to McJoan of Daily Kos.]

Full post as published by TalkLeft on February 19, 2009 (boomark / email).