NAACP to Step Up Maryland Death Penalty Fight

[ichy]

Actually, I think the last guy put to death was white and I think the next guy in line is white. So, just maybe they missed the mark a bit.

I agree that the arguments about the DP being racist are bunk, but your facts are a little off.

The last person to be executed in Maryland was Wesley Baker, who was black. The guy put to death before him was Steven Oken who was white.

There is no real "next guy" in line, however if executions were to resume then the most likely candidates to get juiced first would be Vernon Evans or Anthony Grandison, both of who are black.

[ichy]

For all practical purposes the death penalty has already been abolished in Maryland. DP opponents have never won in the legislature, but they've used the courts to bypass the democratic process and de facto eliminate capital punishment in this state. I'm not happy about that, but it's reality and there's no sense in slamming my head against the wall in frustration.

All that being said I'm still glad we have the DP on the books because it forces DP opponents to pretend that they support life without parole. If we got rid of capital punishment you can be certain that groups like the NAACP would start trying to weaken life w/o parole, eliminate life sentences for juveniles, etc etc.

[Omaha Beach]

For all practical purposes the death penalty has already been abolished in Maryland. DP opponents have never won in the legislature, but they've used the courts to bypass the democratic process and de facto eliminate capital punishment in this state. I'm not happy about that, but it's reality and there's no sense in slamming my head against the wall in frustration.

All that being said I'm still glad we have the DP on the books because it forces DP opponents to pretend that they support life without parole. If we got rid of capital punishment you can be certain that groups like the NAACP would start trying to weaken life w/o parole, eliminate life sentences for juveniles, etc etc.

Help MAY be on the, way. Chief judge robert bell who has never voted to uphold a death sentence has to retire this year as he turns 70.