softheart
04-22-2003, 07:12 PM
What the H--- is wrong with these people?????
softie
April 22
TEXAS:
Texas Senate rejects life-without-parole option
The Senate today rejected a bill that would have allowed juries in the
country's No. 1 death penalty state to sentence a convicted murderer to
life without the possibility of parole.
After little discussion, the bill failed to receive enough votes for it to
come to the floor for a full debate. Current law allows a jury in a
capital offense trial to sentence an offender to death or to life in
prison. With a life sentence now, a convicted murderer can become eligible
for parole in 40 years.
The bill would have given juries all 3 options for sentencing a convicted
murderer. The life without parole option also would have been available in
cases where the prosecution did not seek the death penalty. "Like many of
you I support the death penalty," said bill sponsor Eddie Lucio,
D-Brownsville.
"I also believe giving Texas juries all of the available tools to make
these important issues."
Sen. Steve Ogden, R-College Station, argued that juries could be receiving
a false choice because if the bill was approved, future lawmakers could
later change the law and reject the life without parole measure.
Heading into a scheduled execution Tuesday evening, Texas had put to death
301 inmates since 1982. Tuesday's planned execution would put at 13 the
number of inmates executed this year. During the 2001 legislative session,
the Senate approved a bill that would have allowed juries to sentence a
murderer to life without parole but the bill died in the House.
(source: Houston Chronicle)
softie
April 22
TEXAS:
Texas Senate rejects life-without-parole option
The Senate today rejected a bill that would have allowed juries in the
country's No. 1 death penalty state to sentence a convicted murderer to
life without the possibility of parole.
After little discussion, the bill failed to receive enough votes for it to
come to the floor for a full debate. Current law allows a jury in a
capital offense trial to sentence an offender to death or to life in
prison. With a life sentence now, a convicted murderer can become eligible
for parole in 40 years.
The bill would have given juries all 3 options for sentencing a convicted
murderer. The life without parole option also would have been available in
cases where the prosecution did not seek the death penalty. "Like many of
you I support the death penalty," said bill sponsor Eddie Lucio,
D-Brownsville.
"I also believe giving Texas juries all of the available tools to make
these important issues."
Sen. Steve Ogden, R-College Station, argued that juries could be receiving
a false choice because if the bill was approved, future lawmakers could
later change the law and reject the life without parole measure.
Heading into a scheduled execution Tuesday evening, Texas had put to death
301 inmates since 1982. Tuesday's planned execution would put at 13 the
number of inmates executed this year. During the 2001 legislative session,
the Senate approved a bill that would have allowed juries to sentence a
murderer to life without parole but the bill died in the House.
(source: Houston Chronicle)