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Maryland Senate votes to repeal state's death penalty

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Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley addresses the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, September 4, 2012. REUTERS/Jim Young

Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley addresses the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, September 4, 2012.

Credit: Reuters/Jim Young

Wed Mar 6, 2013 12:49pm EST

(Reuters) - Maryland's Senate voted on Wednesday to repeal the state's death penalty, putting it on a path to becoming the 18th state to abolish executions.

The Senate voted 27 to 20 to repeal the law, according to a legislative spokesperson. The bill next goes to the state House of Delegates, where supporters believe they have enough votes for it to pass.

The measure would likely be signed by Governor Martin O'Malley, who opposes capital punishment.

Maryland's last execution was in 2005.

Maryland is among 33 states with a death penalty, according to Richard Dieter, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center.

(Reporting by Barbara Goldberg and Ellen Wulfhorst; Editing by Dan Grebler)
U.S.
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Comments (4)
wyldbill wrote:
Maybe, just maybe, the US is starting to wake up.

Mar 06, 2013 1:16pm EST  --  Report as abuse
homeboytommyd wrote:
maryland doesn’t need the death penalty as the law enforcement community tends to make prisoners die somehow while in the custody of the jail system. o’malley be proud, you are the hero of every tax increase loving liberal in the world and will likely stay in some degree of power your entire life because you steal from everyone outside of the beltway and give to everyone inside. pander to the welfare public and you become a wh*!e to the people.

Mar 06, 2013 2:23pm EST  --  Report as abuse
flashrooster wrote:
wyldbill: That might be true if you exclude the Deep South and Texas. Down here if they could have public executions and sell tickets, they would. And the tickets would sell, and if they would allow people to carry their guns, it’d be a regular southern love fest.

Mar 06, 2013 3:32pm EST  --  Report as abuse
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