Saturday, December 15, 2007

New Jersey Abolishes the Death Penalty


A couple days ago New Jersey became the 14h state to no longer have the death penalty. The last states to abolish the death penalty were West Virginia and Iowa in 1965. The ban of the death penalty in New Jersey means that the most severe penalty for convicted murderers in the state, including the eight men currently on the state's death row, is life in prison. The last inmate put to death in New Jersey was in 1963.

One of the inmates that was on death row in New Jersey before this bill was passed was Jesse Timmendequas. Jesse Timmendequas is known for committing the murder of 7-year-old Megan Kanka in 1994. This horrific murder led to reforms in tracking sex offenders, known as Megan's Law. New Jersey's Megan's Law requires local law enforcement agencies to give notification when convicted sex offenders live or work in neighborhoods. Now, because of this elimination of the death penalty in New Jersey, Jesse Timmendequas will be allowed to continue to live, living peacefully on the taxpayer's dime in prison. And, I have a feeling that his dog and pony act in prison will eventually lead to his release. I don't know about you, but I don't want that scumbag on the streets again, and society would be much safer if he was just removed from society.

New Jersey lawmakers, apparently, disagree.

If your child, your sweet little girl, was molested and killed by a sicko like Jesse Timmendequas do you think that life in prison is an adequate punishment? Should such a person be allowed to live so that they can strike again? Doesn't eliminating the death penalty also take away one of the deterrents for such a crime?

Makes me sick.

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