N.J. to vote on abolishing death penalty

[Ebowed]

There is no reason why this should be a referendum.

Unless you're Mike Gravel...

[Reluctant Republican]

New Jersey abolishing the death penalty? That strikes me as so… European. [and that is normally a good thing.]  I'd prefer the New Jersey people vote in some people who will reinstate it. Eh, it probably really doesn’t reduce crime or anything, but it’s nice to have on the books for juries that want to send a message. But hey,live and let live I suppose.

[NDN]

Generally a good decision, although I'm not sure if I would want to throw away the DP entirely (there might be one criminal or two every 20 or so years, hopefully more, that truely merits the DP).

But given the choice of the DP as it currently stands, or no death penalty at all...the latter is preferable.

Agreed. Even with DNA testing the risks are too high. Not to mention the death penalty on average is much more costly than life without parole (which contrary to what many think, is what these people get). I could live with the death penalty for people like Bin Laden or Milosevic, but it shouldn't be used for 1st degree murder.