California governor places moratorium on executions

Newsom said the death penalty isn't a deterrent, wastes taxpayer dollars and is flawed because it is "irreversible and irreparable in the event of human error."

Yep

About time.

The death penalty is a crime against human rights.

Agree with all the above. Good man. May this spread to the rest of the country

"The intentional killing of another person is wrong and as governor, I will not oversee the execution of any individual"

This guy got it. Killing someone is against the law, no reason the state would have that power.

Also a political leader giving a death sentence is not a sign of strength. It's just a guy signing a piece of paper far away from where the killing happens, far away from the trauma it causes.

Every Democratic governor should follow suit. No, let me correct that... Every Democratic governor should already have put a moratorium on the death penalty.

It is the Democratic, liberal position that is pro life, as far as human beings are concerned. 

The right decision for the right reasons.

Just to give you stats about crime in California:

California’s violent crime rate rose in 2017 California’s violent crime rate increased by 1.5% in 2017 to 451 per 100,000 residents. 

California’s violent crime rate increased by 1.5% in 2017 to 451 per 100,000 residents. A total of 33 of the state’s 58 counties saw increases in their violent crime rates in 2017. In 19 counties, the violent crime rate increased by more than 10%

The overall crime rate in San Francisco is 151% higher than the national average. For every 100,000 people, there are 18.86 daily crimes that occur in San Francisco. San Francisco is safer than 5% of the cities in the United States.

The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Los Angeles is 1 in 30. Based on FBI crime data, Los Angeles is not one of the safest communities in America. Relative to California, Los Angeles has a crime rate that iOn January 17, 2006, 

California executed Clarence Ray Allen, who was 76 years old. A decade later, California's death row population has increased by 100 to 746, making it the largest in the nations higher than 84% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.

A court-ordered moratorium on executions has been in place since February 2006, when a federal judge declared that California's lethal injection protocol was unconstitutional. 

So California does not have the death penalty and the crime rate is soaring.

In 2012 and again in 2016, Californian voters rejected ballot measures aimed at abolishing the death penalty.

So much for democracy in the USA. LOL.

It is the Democratic, liberal position that is pro life, as far as human beings are concerned

Wait, I’m confused....pro-life for convicted criminals, but pro-choice and for late term abortions....which is it? You guys are so all over the map!

this is just step 1. Then they will pass a statewide initiative to allow these people to vote along with the 48,000 convicted felons. All of this is naturally sponsored by Democrats in the legislature.

@alwayspeakingwisdom, Quite right. The death penalty is a deterrent ( in spite of what its opponents would have us believe).

@Bass, yes, funny that isnt it? The dems are all for sparing killer's lives but have no problem with infanticide.

Wait, I’m confused....pro-life for convicted criminals, but pro-choice and for late term abortions....which is it? You guys are so all over the map!

It's really not that hard to comprehend if you want to. A fetus is not a life. An adult human being is. Not sure where you get the late term part from so I'll leave that lie where it is.

yeah its strange. the people voted against it not once but twice. Where are all the "but the popular vote!" and "but muh democracy" people now?

alwayspeakingwisdom, those stats are for 2017, two years before Newsom instituted the moratorium. That is, crime rates were rising despite the death penalty being in place.

Oh, and Newsom did not abolish capital punishment; he said none would be executed on his watch. If Californians are dissastisfied with this, we can vote him out. Something tells me, though, that that execution chamber will never, ever be used again.

Then they will pass a statewide initiative to allow these people to vote along with the 48,000 convicted felons.

Has Mueller put that many Trump administration employees away already?

Wait, I’m confused.

This we know. It must be confusing to see people who have different views on different topics. Are you not also confused by your own "Hang 'em all / Save 'em all" views on these subjects?

I can't wait for Newsom to put a moratorium on illegals.

It's really not that hard to comprehend if you want to. A fetus is not a life.

Au contraire. From conception, we each have our own chromosomes, as well as our own set of DNA.

From very early in pregnancy all the way through the time period that covers being a fetus, each of us already have our own hearts, DNA, blood supply, arms and legs, and so on.

Pregnant women do not have two sets of DNA. They do not have two sets of chromosomes. They do not have two blood supplies. They do not have two hearts, or two brains. They do not have (roughly half the time) a penis.

So, your snarky "not that hard to comprehend" comment doesn't make your "fetus is not a life" statement any less scientifically ridiculous.

Get pregnant sometime, and you'll find that the four-month-old fetus -- which you claim is "not a life" -- will take up the new hobby of kicking the crap out of you.

That "non-life" will be kicking the crap out of you with his or her (yes, a sex is determined by that time) own legs. Not yours. Because you don't have four legs.

A fetus is not a life? That is most ridiculous. And that is not an opinion. It's a scientific fact that a fetus is a life, and is a distinct and separate human being.

And if you're okay with killing that human being but not okay with capital punishment, you're being utterly contradictory.

That's why I'm against capital punishment and against abortion. But at least the unborn baby didn't commit a crime.

Not sure where you get the late term part from so I'll leave that lie where it is.

The U.S. state of New York just legalized abortion at any point during pregnancy -- including right up to just before birth.

It's not a "lie" just because you are "not sure where you get it" from.

If you're not sure where a person gets something from, maybe do a little research first before leaping to calling it a "lie."

And again, a fetus IS a life. He/She is a separate human being. Get pregnant sometime and that "non-life" will be kicking the crap out of you. With his/her own legs.

Fetuses take too long to grow up to become voters. Plus they might vote for the “wrong side”.

Thus it is easier to import illegals and give convicted felons, both in and out of prison, voting rights.

So a guy is elected by “the people”. People don’t want something (abolishment of death penalty). Elected official does what he wants anyway against the will of the people. This is ok?

If someone murdered Newsom's wife and kids in front of a crowd of people I wonder if he would reverse his decision...

Then they will pass a statewide initiative to allow these people to vote along with the 48,000 convicted felons.

Has Mueller put that many Trump administration employees away already?

Governor is hundred percent right. Prosecutors fear . Pls do away with death penalty. Bill Crosby rightly argued, if i kill for my self defense should i be killed is that justice he said in NY Sing Sing prison, Self defense rule one sided idea. Long life sentences may be okay. release Mr Governor if convinced else ask the court to give long sentences, author How we misinterpret our energy.

@Jenni

Your criticism of my comment is not unwarranted. I was short and did come off as definite when the debate on what constitutes a “life” or at least “the right to life” is ongoing and certainly not a done deal as you suggest (or I did).

“Unfortunately there's no agreement in medicine, philosophy or theology as to what stage of foetal development should be associated with the right to life.” (BBC)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/abortion/child/alive_1.shtml

Being against a government deciding whether or not someone lives or dies and indeed literally killing someone and believing that a woman should have a right to decide what happens to her own body including abort a pregnancy is not contradictory so far as I dice it up. 

And about the “lie” I was not saying he was lying i was saying lay/lie. Like let sleeping dogs lie but understandable that you misunderstood that in your fury to reply. I didn’t think about how that could be taken when I posted.

Right wingers: The State should stay out of people’s lives!

Also right wingers: The State should have power over life and death

The death penalty is more for people who want revenge than anything else. It’s barbaric and does not work as a deterrent to crime. It’s common sense to abolish it.

Right-wingers love executions in the same way that they love cowboy politicians beating up journalists, cutting welfare to poor people, and blaming dark-skinned immigrants for society's woes. It's so self-satisfying, ain't it?

The Trump presidency is a condensed version of this unfortunate strain (and stain) in American civic life.

The death penalty has, without question, killed innocent people. That alone is enough to reject it. 

Sure some people deserve to die. But we cannot call ourselves civilized if we accept being murderers ourselves as the price of vengeance.

It is the Democratic, liberal position that is pro life

Yeah? Then how come we have 44 Senate Democrats blocking a bill that would protect newborn infants from being killed or subjected to negligent homicide should they survive an attempted abortion?

I want to know when the California Gov is going to place a moratorium on illegals.

Sure some people deserve to die. 

I disagree.

Right-wingers love executions in the same way that they love cowboy politicians beating up journalists, cutting welfare to poor people, and blaming dark-skinned immigrants for society's woes. It's so self-satisfying, ain't it?

I doubt it, they just believe in punishing a heinous crime, Democrats believe the criminal should be protected and kept in a sanctuary city, and if someone or an illegal that’s been deported comes into the country repeatedly and kills someone, just keep them or deport them again, it’s what they do.

The Trump presidency is a condensed version of this unfortunate strain (and stain) in American civic life.

Sounds great, tough and resilient to remove.

Sounds like California has a huge 'crime' issue.

So California does not have the death penalty and the crime rate is soaring.

How do you explain places where the crime rate is soaring and they do have the death penalty?

Crime rates are driven more by demographics and poverty than any other reason.

glad to read this on Japan Today

So a guy is elected by “the people”. People don’t want something (abolishment of death penalty). Elected official does what he wants anyway against the will of the people. This is ok?

It's okay if the official is a democrat. They can and do anything they want.

If someone murdered Newsom's wife and kids in front of a crowd of people I wonder if he would reverse his decision...

It's amazing how many people who favor "humanity" for criminals quickly change their tune and demand harsher penalties when the violent crime directly affects them, especially if it involves the murder of a loved one, relative, friends, etc.

The death penalty is more for people who want revenge than anything else. It’s barbaric and does not work as a deterrent to crime. It’s common sense to abolish it.

Really? I suppose the convicted murderer's act is not barbaric? Oh I get it, the criminal is a victim of society, a misunderstood soul, not responsible for his acts and should be forgiven and given a lenient punishment, i.e., life in prison where he can receive free medical care, meals. room & board, etc.....all subsidized by the taxpayers at the cost of $81,000/year for 50 years, which equates to $4,050,000 over his lifetime).

One thing is absolutely certain: The executed criminal who is shown to be unable or unwilling to rehabilitate will never, ever commit violent acts against humanity again.

One thing is absolutely certain: The executed criminal who is shown to be unable or unwilling to rehabilitate will never, ever commit violent acts against humanity again.

Something else that is absolutely certain... while the death penalty is not being used there is zero chance of an innocent somebody being put to death for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I remember many years ago when Mario Cuomo ran for President and was asked by a reporter if his daughter was raped and murdered would he still be against the death penalty -- in true form of a weasel he refused to answer the question. Of course, his sons are following in his footsteps...

Opponents to the death penalty argue that a disproportionate number of criminals being executed are people of color, well, duh, they commit a disproportionate number of violent crimes -- been to Chicago in the last 10 years?

Wait, I’m confused....pro-life for convicted criminals, but pro-choice and for late term abortions....which is it? You guys are so all over the map!

Ridiculous, as usual.

The U.S. state of New York just legalized abortion at any point during pregnancy -- including right up to just before birth.

Under what circumstances are late-term abortions authorized in New York? You're either intentionally leaving out the most important aspects of the law or you're completely ignorant of them. Either way, your description is far more nefarious than reality.

Opponents to the death penalty argue that a disproportionate number of criminals being executed are people of color, well, duh, they commit a disproportionate number of violent crimes -- been to Chicago in the last 10 years?

Why do you think it is that African Americans commit a disproportionate number of crimes? Let's have a little sophistication in an argument for once, you're smart enough to use a computer, afterall.

Like most millennials you want it put right in front of you without any effort to look it up yourself; straight from Wikipedia:

According to the US Department of Justice, African Americans accounted for 52.5% of all homicide offenders from 1980 to 2008, with European Americans 45.3% and "Other" 2.2%. The offending rate for African Americans was almost 8 times higher than European Americans, and the victim rate 6 times higher. Most homicides were intraracial, with 84% of European Americans victims killed by European Americans, and 93% of African Americans victims were killed by African Americans.[49][50][51]

In 2013, number and percentage of murder arrests by race were: 

Black or African Americans 4,379 = 51.3%

White Americans (non-Hispanic Americans) 2,861 = 33.5%

Hispanic Americans 1,096 = 12.8%

American Indians or Alaska Natives 98 = 1.14%

Asian Americans 101 = 1.18%[52][53]

Inversely, the percentage of individuals in each racial demographic arrested for murder in 2013 (with 2016 population estimates) was:

0.0102% of Black or African American population (4,379/42,975,959)

0.0023% of American Indian or Alaska Native population (98/4,200,658)

0.0019% Hispanic American population (1,096/57,516,697)

0.0014% of White American (3,799/198,077,165)

0.0010% of Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander population (6/646,255)

0.0005% of Asian American population (101/18,418,268)[52][54]

Blacks account for the majority of gun homicide victims/arestees in the US while whites account for the vast majority of non-gun homicide victims/arrestees, of the gun murder victims in the United States between 2007-2016, 57% were black, 40.6% white (including Hispanic), 1.35% Asian, 0.98% unknown race and 0.48% Native American.

Non-gun homicides, represented about 30% of total murders in the time period. Blacks were still overrepresented although only by about 2.5x their share of the general population.[55]Of the non-gun murder victims in the United States between 2007-2016, 61.5% were white (including Hispanic), 32.9% black, 2.29% Asian, 1.89% unknown race and 1.43% Native American.[56]

Good call. As has been said, the death penalty is little more than a tool for revenge, and doesn't work as a deterrent. To those who say it does: prove it. Why is the crime rate in the US so high if the Death Penalty is a deterrent? Oh, and don't blame immigrants. That's racist. I'll tell you why it doesn't work, by quoting George Carlin: "These people aren't afraid to die. They're already killing each other every day on the streets by the hundreds. Drive-bys, gang shootings, they're not afraid to die. Death Penalty doesn't mean anything unless you use it on people who are afraid to die." And he makes a valid point. You can't deter someone with something they're not afraid of. George Carlin, in the same performance, went on to say how the Death Penalty just serves to satisfy a primitive bloodlust and desire for revenge. Also true.

Governor Newsom is doing the right thing. Sure, there are some people who commit terrible crimes, but will killing them really make a difference? Will it really let them realise their sins, or will it just let them escape it? If they're not afraid to die, can it really be called an effective punishment? Is it even worth calling it a punishment, if even the threat of it fails to reform the inmate? It's also true though that there have been many cases where executed prisoners were later discovered to have been innocent. Then what? You've just murdered an innocent person, is what. You can't undo that. A life sentence can be lifted in the light of new evidence. Death is irreversible. There have also been cases where the execution method fails to achieve its results, causing the condemned to suffer unnecessarily (which just adds insult to injury if the condemned happens to be innocent). That isn't right. That isn't something we should be trying to preserve, but to remove. Governor Newsom is taking steps towards that end, and rightly so. It's a flawed penalty that fails to deter, results in the death of innocents far too often, and ultimately does little more but satisfy the savage hunger of a few barbaric individuals so far removed from being civilised that one questions their humanity.

This is great news (even if it does play to the demographic) and at least the governor realises it's time to do something about this barbaric custom.

Wait, I’m confused....pro-life for convicted criminals, but pro-choice and for late term abortions....which is it? You guys are so all over the map!

Not sure what a medical procedure has to do with this story?

I doubt it, they just believe in punishing a heinous crime, Democrats believe the criminal should be protected and kept in a sanctuary city

What punishment would you be in favor of, for a politician or politicians who betrayed their own country or colluded with a foreign power?

@Toastedheretic,

There was NO COLLUSION. Even Pelosi has said impeachment aint gonna happen.

You'll have to latch on to the next spurious caper the witch hunt initiates.

@Mr. Noidall,

Exactly. My experience is similar to yours. I didnt leave the left/Democratic party/ progressives. It left me.

Like most millennials you want it put right in front of you without any effort to look it up yourself; straight from Wikipedia:

Wikipedia . . . Sweet source. Millennial use it all the time. One thing, Vern, nothing you posted explains why African Americans commit so many crimes.

Unlike conservatives, I read and have a modicum of critical thinking ability.

I think it's because the majority are ingrained with hiphop thug culture: having street cred overrides everything else.

Keep flailing around, grasping at straws. It's funny to watch.