|
|
| Ill. Gov. Unsure of Death Penalty |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 05/07/2001 |
|
Gov. George Ryan, who suspended executions in Illinois, said recently he's still struggling with whether he supports the death penalty, adding that he couldn't 'throw the switch'' on convicted Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh. The Republican spoke to law students at Loyola University Chicago about his decision last year to impose a moratorium on executions after some death row inmates were declared innocent. In the past, Ryan has said he backed capital punishment if it were applied fairly and left no room for error. But when a student asked him if he could support a flawless death penalty, he responded: 'I don't know.'' Ryan, a former state lawmaker, told students that when the Illinois House was debating whether to reinstate the death penalty in the late 1970s, he voted for reinstatement even though he knew he couldn't pull the switch. Since 1977, Illinois has freed 13 men from death row and put another 12 to death. |
advertise
|
privacy policy
|
add URL
|
about us
|
terms/disclaimer
|
contact us
|
join our team
|
help
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think