Illinois State Senate passed the bill to abolish the death penalty!

[nofurylike]

from the Illinois Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty:

Legislative Victory! Now thank the champions of abolition:

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/206/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5510

Tuesday, January 11, 2:56 p.m. CST:

What a day! This morning, the State Senate Judiciary Committee here in Illinois passed SB 3539, the bill to abolish the death penalty, on a 7-4 vote. Just now, as we write, the State Senate passed the legislation on a 32-25 vote. Read a story about the vote in the Chicago Tribune:
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2011/01/illinois-death-penalty-ban-a-step-closer-to-governors-desk.html

The bill must still be signed by Governor Pat Quinn. Now, though, we are asking you to take action by Thanking The Champions of Repeal, State Representative Karen Yarbrough and State Senator Kwame Raoul.

Pictures of victory in the House are posted here:
http://www.ncadp.org/index.cfm?content=174
Pictures from the Senate victory coming soon!)

Remember, our bill, SB 3539, takes the savings from death penalty abolition and invests in law enforcement training and services for victims and their families. Before you know it, we'll be asking you to contact the Governor, but for now, we ask you to focus on thanking our bill sponsors.

Take Action Now!

Make sure that Rep. Karen Yarbrough and Sen. Kwame Raoul know that you appreciate their efforts to shepherd this legislation through the Illinois General Assembly.

Use the form provided, and check back to this webpage soon for more action to help repeal in Illinois!

-snip-

***

more at link, including form to email Representative Karen Yarbrough and Senator Kwame Raoul.

Thank you!!

[udbcrzy2]

1. I know a bunch of people who will be very unhappy over this

I attend a group each month of family members that are victims of homicide crimes. I respect your view, but I'm not happy with this at all. Some of these murderers have tortured and executed our loved ones. Some of the victims have been young children. Sorry to disagree, but I must.

[nofurylike]

3. i deeply, deeply sympathize, udbcrzy2. i hope you will read the

following. i'd like to hear your thoughts on this too. thank you for discussing.

"Murder Victims’ Families Support Repealing the Death Penalty"
the Illinois murder victim sign-on letter

http://www.ncadp.org/assets/FamiliesLetter.pdf


also important, from the linked site of the Illinois Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty:

"Remember, our bill, SB 3539, takes the savings from death penalty abolition and invests in law enforcement training and services for victims and their families."

thank you, again, udbcrzy2

[udbcrzy2]

7. I read the file you suggested

This still does not change my mind and thank you for respecting my point of view. I know that my view is the same as other loved ones from my group. There is a problem is Illinois. I have heard stories of some murderers getting 'time off' for good behavior. I thought they said it had been 1 day off for each day of good behavior. Some murderers only served 12-years sentences.

I hope your group would do this; upgrade victims rights. The right to be present during the trial even if they are called as a witness. That would be a really big one. The right to be at any hearing or proceeding the defendant has the same right to be at. Illinois has forgotten about the victims and their families.

It's unfortunate that Illinois is 'flawed and racist', I guess nothing is perfect. I wouldn't care what race or color or religion the murder is. For me if they have committed aggravated murder they should not be here on this universe. I hate to hear about them having adorned their cells with color TV, cell phone usage, ability to cook in their cell, have personal A/C unit in their cell, etc., when I know what they have done to the victim/victims.

[udbcrzy2]

9. I call bullshit on your file

I have googled some of those names of the victims. I haven't gotten through all of them yet, but some were not sentenced to death row.
Now, this is a letter to the assembly, but the information seems to be sort of deceiving. I wonder what the OTHER family members think
about this???

[udbcrzy2]

10. Sarah Hire step=daugther of Bryan Ruede

Terry Barber, 46, of Colonie, lost her 39-year-old brother, Bryan Ruede, 10 years ago this August, when he was stabbed numerous times during a robbery attempt at his home in Fort Wayne, Ind.

“He slashed my brother’s throat from ear to ear and stabbed him all over his body, said Barber. “All I could think of is what my brother must have gone through.”

The 19-year-old murderer apologized to Barber’s mother during his trial. He was sentenced to 60 years in prison. Ruede said the family was satisfied with the outcome.

“I have two kids, 15 and 16 years old, and they’ve been through hell,” said Ruede. “They were very young when it happened, but they remember it very vividly. My son won’t go upstairs by himself, and he makes sure the alarm on our house is always set.”

http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2008/may/25/0525_murderedchildren/?print


Here is one for you. This is what you folks are trying to save? Also noticed at the website in your original post has an area where you can be penpals with these prisoners too.

[nofurylike]

12. you know, i came online to reply to your earlier posts, but i can

not do so now. your hostility is intractable. i understand why it is, but it is not something i can pierce with reason. i am sorry.

i am deeply, deeply sorry for what you have suffered.

there is not one single abolitionist who acts in order to "save" monsters. we work incessantly to end a system that is broken without hope of repair; a system that is an atrocity of racism and classism.
unfortunately, i am not posting these alerts in order to debate the death penalty. i do not, right now, have time to do the question, or your feelings justice.

i hope you will look more deeply into the issues involved, including that there is absolutely no way to implement a death penalty in a way that is consistent with the constitution.

i truly wish you very well.

[nofurylike]

5. many of the legislators share your view, udbcrzy2. they

agonized over this decision. i hope you'll read the articles about their feelings, and the reasons they decided as they did. it is not out of sympathy for the monsters you described.

i am, again, deeply sorry for your loss and suffering.

thanks, again, for discussing.

[mucifer]

2. Thank you! I just called and emailed the governor.

Sorry Udbcrazy, I have to say that the system is very flawed and racist. I can't say how I'd react if a family member of mine was murdered. But, I know that there are family members of those murdered support an end to the death penalty.

[nofurylike]

4. thank you so much, mucifer. and thank you for your expression of

support for udbcrzy2, and other victims.
well said: "the system is very flawed and racist."

thanks again!

[udbcrzy2]

11. That's what you said

I am not an activist for criminals, so I wouldn't know for sure if it was racist. I do believe it is flawed.

[udbcrzy2]

8. Just to be clear on one thing

The guy who murdered my kid. I don't want the death penalty for him. I want him to grow old and fragile in prison. My friends from my group think that he will become a 'target'. I guess he might get picked on. I want to hear that he is in such horrible condition that he's in a prison nursing home wearing a shitty diaper and dies like that. The needle is too good for him. He needs to be in population where he can appreciate others who are as evil as he is. Just wanted to make that clear. My friends though they want the death penalty and I respect their view.

[nofurylike]

6. thank you for the rec! nt