Mar 30th, 2009
Posted by Christopher Hill, Capital Punishment Project at 3:18pm	Capital Punishment

The World is Getting Closer to Killing the Death Penalty

Amnesty International recently released its annual report about capital punishment in the world, entitled Death Sentences and Executions in 2008 (PDF). While the report contains some reasons for concern, it shows that the world is continuing to reject the death penalty.

Last year, countries around the world abolished the death penalty, including Uzbekistan and Argentina. The report states that “Europe and Central Asia is now virtually a death penalty free zone…” The only shameful example left is Belarus, which still has the death penalty and still executes people.

In addition, countries that have the death penalty used it less in 2008. Amnesty International found that out of 59 countries that still use capital punishment, only 25 executed anyone. Not all countries, however, demonstrated such restraint. According to the report, China executed about 1,718 people, Iran executed about 346 and Saudi Arabia killed about 102 people.

Unfortunately the United States placed fourth on the list with 37 people killed in death chambers throughout the country. There is, however, hope for the United States. The number of U.S. executions is declining. Death sentences are also declining.

This year has also brought some good news. Italy has abolished its death penalty. New Mexico will no longer use its death chamber. Several states had abolition legislation this year. New Hampshire’s House of Representatives recently voted to repeal the death penalty. There is even proposed federal legislation to abolish the federal death penalty.

Let’s all work to make sure that the progress away from this barbaric punishment continues both here and abroad.

Permalink |	Capital Punishment

1. John Kim Says:
   Mar 30th, 2009 at 10:51pm

   So I guess only the murderers and rapists will be our judge jury and executioners. The government does nothing to protect it's citizens these days.

2. Aigars Says:
   Mar 30th, 2009 at 10:53pm

   China is not only death penalty centre - it also human organs (parts) trafficer.

   THey have minivans where they wxwcute people and split it in parts that are delivered to the Beijing and Shangai for sale to Japanese and rich Chinese.

   WWW.zeitgeistmovement.com

3. dan Says:
   Mar 31st, 2009 at 1:10am

   whats the point of keeping some one so dangerous around.you say guns kill people so you want to be rid of them.murderers kill people so why not get rid of them.the only thing your going to achieve by keeping a homicidal nut job around is that nut job is going to have a chance to escape and kill more people.ted bundy escaped twice and went back to killing people.

4. Ralphie Says:
   Mar 31st, 2009 at 11:06am

   One tough question remains: how to encourage China to abolish the death penalty. After all, it controls 20% of the world population, and executes several times more than the result of the world combined.

5. Paen Says:
   Apr 1st, 2009 at 2:07pm

   I wonder if many of the pro death penalty folks ever wondered how easy it is for someone to be wrongly accused of a crime?

6. Cc Says:
   Apr 3rd, 2009 at 7:31pm

   "Let’s all work to make sure that the progress away from this barbaric punishment continues both here and abroad."

   I'm curious if these are Miss Ito's words......and what her stance on Abortion is???

   Thats right....ABORTION!!

   Here you Joyously orate how the Death penalty should be diminished for RAPISTS....SERIAL KILLERS....PEDIPHILES(sp)...and so on.

   It cracks me the hell up how backwards your brainhousing works lady.

   People who deserve to die...are kept alive for years at the expense of taxpayers......yet the pure spirited and blessed gifts of Babies are Ripped right out of life every day!!

   Whats you take on this there Suzie??

7. fireball Says:
   Apr 4th, 2009 at 4:30pm

   I wonder how many people still awaiting their execution deserve the punishment imposed by the laws of humans for punishment of crimes against humans?

   Humans invented the law, and continue to change and enforce it. However, all humans are diffeent, and one opinion may not agree with another...yet neither is wrong.

8. American Person Says:
   Apr 5th, 2009 at 12:35am

   First of all, how can you sit there and believe that criminals who make the choice to brutally kill innocent people deserve to live?
   Second: How can you believe this and call yourself a human being?

   I just don't understand why I hear so much about how cruel and unusual it is to execute a person whose victim(s) probably suffered a fate far more inhumane. No one on the anti-death penalty side seems to consider the cruel and unusual punishment that is inflicted upon the victims of murderers.

9. Cc Says:
   Apr 5th, 2009 at 11:23am

   So....the ACLU prevents free speech when the speech doesn't support their biased view?

   My response was deleted but is still on the WWW in original form including this article.

   it can be viewed here http://firebasefreedom.us.invisionzone.com/index.php?s=&showtopic= 13862&view=findpost&p=96514

   how come your moderator doesn't like opposing views?

10. CC Says:
    Apr 5th, 2009 at 9:52pm

    I know Roy Brown personally since I was a kid.

    Look up his name....

11. roald Says:
    Apr 9th, 2009 at 1:42pm

    dan - what if the person is innocent?

    American Person - why is it OK for the government to be as cruel and brutal as the killer?

    cc - I do not consider a zygote or embryo to be a person, thus an abortion is not killing. Why do you consider a person who has killed someone else no longer a person deserving life. Eye for an eye?
    The link you provided cannot be reached. The site calls for logging in first. I presume that post refers to your next on about Roy Brown. I found another link that might be the same story - http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/criminal_mind/forensics/ff311_roy_b rown/1_index.html. It is a strong case against capital punishment.
    For your missing post, please review what you wrote against the blog's rules. I have seen very strong disagreements with the ACLU posted.

12. Citizen X Says:
    Apr 19th, 2009 at 12:24pm

    Why would the ACLU want to keep Murderers alive? The people that recieve the death penalty have shown that they cannot coexist with society. They have shown that, to them, human life has no value. Does the ACLU really believe that we should support these deviants for the rest of thier lives, that we should subject other inmates to these animals? The Judical system may not be perfect, but the appeals can give the innocent the chance for redemption, a chance to prove thier innocence. But, in my opinion, cold blooded killers SHOULD be removed from society - PERMENANTLY -. To protect them is nothing more than a slap in the face to both thier victims and to any law enforcement agent or inmate that comes into contact with them. Maybe the ACLU should focus on the trial process to help guarntee a fair trial, instead of keeping murderers alive.

13. Nijole Says:
    May 13th, 2009 at 1:04pm

    If a person is guilty of killing someone beyond a shadow of a doubt, i.e.: Ted Bundy, he should be hung right after trial. I'm so sick of the "bleeding hearts" with the, "oh it's inhumane to inject them". If someone harmed my family, I'd personally want to pull the switch. Why waste $$$, I would personally donate a box of bullets out of my pay weekly for the Firing Squad. You know why are prisons are overcrowded? Because they've become a resort. There are no consequences to pay for your crime. You want prison reform? Stick everyone is one big room, sleep on concrete, get water to drink, and maybe a bologne sandwich a day. Your supposed to NOT want to go to prison! These criminals with "rap" sheets an inch thick. What has happened to this country?

14. NOLA Says:
    May 15th, 2009 at 2:18pm

    I believe the Death Penalty isn't used enough in today's society. If we could enforce the penalty the day of the conviction instead of draging it out on appeals that would deter many others from crime. This society has become so weak it is pathetic

15. A well armed American.... Says:
    May 15th, 2009 at 10:01pm

    Lets just review things. Someone comes into my home kills or rapes someone in my familt (while I an Not home), you (the ACLU) believe that said person or persons should be allowed to sit in prision on my tax dollar because the death penalty is too cruel. That is the most insane thinking ever. Let me give you a fine example on how stupid your (ACLU) thinking is. A child rapist was released from prision and forced to register with the local sherriff. This man then entered the county fair one cole september night and found his next target. His neighbor. He took her out to the swamps nearby and raped her then dismembered her body. Two weeks out of prision. He should have been taken out behind the court house and shot. His body should have been thrown in the dumpster and left there to rot. WAKE UP PEOPLE!! All of you ACLU peopl;e make me sick!

16. Eduardo Real Says:
    May 16th, 2009 at 10:13pm

    Data: Argentina never has had the capital punishment. Never. In 198 years, never -even in dictatorship periods- neither such a law was submitted to the Parliament nor was decreed by the executive. So it's impossible to abolish the death penalty in Argentina.

    But it's correct the data about Uzbekistan.

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