New Jersey Bans Death Penalty

Today, New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine signed a bill that will abolish the death penalty in New Jersey. The state has not actually enforced the law since 1963 but it still marks the first time in nearly thirty-years that a state has banned the death penalty.

Gov. Corzine sited the governments lack of a "fool-proof death penalty that precludes the possibility of executing the innocent," as one reason for signing the bill into law. He also poses a philosophical question that "society must ask, is it not morally superior to imprison 100 people for life than it is to execute all 100 when it's probable we execute an innocent."

The death penalty is still legal in thirty-seven states despite objections of its fallibility or its intended purpose that it deters major crimes and that it is cruel and unusual punishment. Critics also argue that it is more costly to run the death penalty system than it is to lock the individual up for life (see death penalty fact sheet)

Supporters of the death penalty allege that it deters crime and may prevent recidivism along with being an appropriate form of punishment for the heinous crime committed.

While trolling the blogs today, I encountered two common responses puzzle me regarding the Governor's signing of the bill.

In summary here is what they say:

"Congrats New Jersey! You have just joined civilization!". This comment was followed by "wait till someone you love is taken from you, then you'll wish you had the death penalty".

My response to the first phrase brings up the classic Abortion/Death Penalty conundrum. I'd be curious to see how many people that joined the "welcome to civilization" bandwagon are pro-choice. If so, I find your comments full of irony and I'll leave it at that.

Finally, while I understand the argument about feeling differently if your son/daughter etc etc was taken from you at the hands of another, I think that logic should be applied at the opposite end of the spectrum: what if your son/daughter was unjustly put on death row?