I meant to post this earlier, a congratulations to New Mexico for becoming the fifteenth State to abolish the death penalty. It didn’t come from a realization that the Death Penalty is fundamentally wrong, but from the, almost as important, realization that justice systems, despite their best efforts otherwise, are unable to guarantee that no one will be wrongfully convicted, and that innocent people will be (and have been) executed.
The abolition on March 18th, 2009 is something that New Mexico should be very proud of. It is unfortunate that Montana squandered the same opportunity just a few days later, and even more unfortunate that there remains 35 States where execution has not been abolished.
In honour of New Mexico’s decision here is one of Robert Plant’s and Jimmy Page’s most powerful songs. Thank you New Mexico.