[lbo-talk] California Moratorium on Executions Act

[Michael Hoover]

>>> debburz at yahoo.com 12/14/05 1:16 PM >>>
The statistic that I'm waiting for is one that determines how many
defendants are given the death penalty now that jurors have the
option of life w/o parole, the option that jurors have not had until
now.  One of the questions Texas jurors must answer in deliberating
punishment is whether or not the convicted defendant would kill
again.  Under the former sentencing options, an answer of "yes" would
all but mandate the death penalty for most jurors, because the option
of parole was seen as a loophole.  Well, that option is now gone, and
now we get to see just how bloodthirsty the population really is. 

 - Deborah
<<<<<>>>>>

nationally, support (in opinion polls) for death penalty has fallen pretty 
significantly since reagan-era high of 80%+, support had risen rapidly 
from late '60s when % supporting was below 50% (correlation between
support and conservative political swing fairly obvious), recent gallup 
poll has current support at 64%...

when asked about dp or life w/o parole, percentage has remained quite
consistent over time, support for dp falling to around 50%, recent gallup 
poll indicates 56% for this option...   mh

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