"End futility of death penalty system," is the editorial published by the Pocono Record in Pennsylvania.
If there’s one thing for which Pennsylvanians can thank confessed double murderer William Parrish, it’s pointing out the mirage of the state’s capital punishment law.“Mirage” is no mere opinion. It reflects reality. Pennsylvania has imposed the death penalty 412 times since 1978, when capital punishment was reinstated, but only three people have been executed — and they essentially committed legal suicide, by declining to appeal. The last prisoner executed against his will was put to death in 1962, more than 50 years ago.
And:
A 2011 Morning Call article reported that the death penalty costs an additional $2.27 million every year, even though, as Parrish’s recent stay shows, executions do not occur.Death penalty advocates and death penalty opponents alike should agree that the system is broken. For all intents and purposes, it’s mere smoke and mirrors. All the death penalty is doing is bleeding Pennsylvania taxpayers.
Earlier coverage from Pennsylvania begins at the link.
Comments