Ret10Echo
02-19-2009, 06:11
I found this interesting for a couple of reasons. First because of the serious leftward leanings of the voter base here in MD I am surprised there is any "debate" at all. Secondly because I found the comments from the former democrat govenor pretty direct and applicable although delivered as a bit of sarcasm......now the fact that former Govenor Mandel was convicted of mail fraud and racketeering shouldn't be a big deal, I mean it WAS the '70s.
R10
Death penalty debate rages in Maryland
February 19, 2009 - 6:05am
Kate Ryan, WTOP.com
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The debate is on in the Maryland General Assembly as to whether the death penalty is a deterrent to violent crime or an expensive, ineffective tool with flaws so bad it should be repealed.
More than 90 witnesses signed up to speak before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.
The question posed by Gov. Martin O'Malley is "whether to replace Maryland's death penalty to life without parole."
In a rare appearance before the legislature, O'Malley kicked off the hearing arguing that the death penalty is not a deterrent, pointing to a period in which violent crime spiked in the city of Baltimore, where he served as mayor. He said despite the fact that the death penalty was on the books, the violence escalated.
"The death penalty did absolutely nothing to prevent these awful crimes that plagued a proud and great American city. Nothing."
O'Malley has repeatedly called the death penalty a costly, inefficient tool to curbing violent crime.
Former Gov. Marvin Mandel came forward to offer a different perspective, a counter-point to O'Malley. He told of a time when a guard was taken hostage at the Maryland Penitentiary. Mandel said inmates were threatening to throw the hostage from a guard tower. He told the Senate panel that he agreed to talk to the inmates. He recalled they told him since they were already serving life terms, they had nothing to lose if they killed the guard.
Mandel said he told them, "If you kill that man, tomorrow morning, the legislature's going to meet in a special session and pass a bill to kill both of you."
Mandel got a laugh when he continued.
"One of them looked at the other and said 'Do you think he can do that?' and the other said 'maybe.'"
Mandel said they let the guard go. "When you say it isn't a deterrent, this is one time when it was a total deterrent. Correct what you find are the injustices, correct what you find are the problems, but don't take it off the books," Mandel said.
Since the General Assembly reinstated capital punishment in 1978, five men have been executed. Five remain on death row.
A task force formed by O'Malley reported in December that the application of the death penalty in Maryland is so flawed, it should be abolished. Yet, a poll cited by the Baltimore Sun shows that more than half of Maryland residents surveyed support the death penalty.
The Sun also reports that a poll of Senate lawmakers indicates that a narrow majority opposes repeal.
R10
Death penalty debate rages in Maryland
February 19, 2009 - 6:05am
Kate Ryan, WTOP.com
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The debate is on in the Maryland General Assembly as to whether the death penalty is a deterrent to violent crime or an expensive, ineffective tool with flaws so bad it should be repealed.
More than 90 witnesses signed up to speak before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.
The question posed by Gov. Martin O'Malley is "whether to replace Maryland's death penalty to life without parole."
In a rare appearance before the legislature, O'Malley kicked off the hearing arguing that the death penalty is not a deterrent, pointing to a period in which violent crime spiked in the city of Baltimore, where he served as mayor. He said despite the fact that the death penalty was on the books, the violence escalated.
"The death penalty did absolutely nothing to prevent these awful crimes that plagued a proud and great American city. Nothing."
O'Malley has repeatedly called the death penalty a costly, inefficient tool to curbing violent crime.
Former Gov. Marvin Mandel came forward to offer a different perspective, a counter-point to O'Malley. He told of a time when a guard was taken hostage at the Maryland Penitentiary. Mandel said inmates were threatening to throw the hostage from a guard tower. He told the Senate panel that he agreed to talk to the inmates. He recalled they told him since they were already serving life terms, they had nothing to lose if they killed the guard.
Mandel said he told them, "If you kill that man, tomorrow morning, the legislature's going to meet in a special session and pass a bill to kill both of you."
Mandel got a laugh when he continued.
"One of them looked at the other and said 'Do you think he can do that?' and the other said 'maybe.'"
Mandel said they let the guard go. "When you say it isn't a deterrent, this is one time when it was a total deterrent. Correct what you find are the injustices, correct what you find are the problems, but don't take it off the books," Mandel said.
Since the General Assembly reinstated capital punishment in 1978, five men have been executed. Five remain on death row.
A task force formed by O'Malley reported in December that the application of the death penalty in Maryland is so flawed, it should be abolished. Yet, a poll cited by the Baltimore Sun shows that more than half of Maryland residents surveyed support the death penalty.
The Sun also reports that a poll of Senate lawmakers indicates that a narrow majority opposes repeal.