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| Illinois Gov. Strips Death Penalty from Terrorism Bill |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 02/13/2002 |
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Illinois Gov. George Ryan used his special limited veto powers to strip the death penalty from an anti-terrorism measure approved in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks. Existing murder laws apply to terrorist acts and allow the death penalty, Ryan said. 'In fact, it would be difficult to imagine a scenario under which a terrorist act resulting in death would not already qualify for capital punishment under our current statute,' the Republican governor said in his veto message. Two years ago, the governor declared a moratorium on executions in Illinois after 13 death row inmates were found to have been wrongly convicted. He said it would be wrong to expand the state's death penalty laws while a special commission is studying whether the law needs to be overhauled. The governor also narrowed a section of the legislation that gives police greater powers to listen in on suspects' telephone conversations, and he made numerous changes in other sections. The anti-terrorism bill's chief proponent, Attorney General Jim Ryan, quickly urged lawmakers to override the changes. The attorney general, who is not related to the governor, has supported the moratorium on executions. But once the system has been reformed, terrorists should be among those sentenced to die, he said. The anti-terrorism measure was approved in November. Only one lawmaker in the two chambers voted against it. |
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