Pophistory: music, movies, history, and life.
Today, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed a bill passed by the state legislature abolishing the death penalty in the state. He also commuted the death sentences of the fifteen Illinois inmates on death row to life in prison. The law takes effect July 1 and will make Illinois the sixteenth state without the death penalty. … Continue reading “Illinois Abolishes Death Penalty: Steve Earle’s Over Yonder”
Steve Earle has released a wonderful tribute to one of his mentors, Guy Clark, with his album GUY. Yet, the album is a bit of a surprise. Earle has long been outspoken on important issues, incorporating political messages into many of his songs. So, one may wonder why, during a crazy period of American political … Continue reading “Why “GUY”? (Steve Earle album review)”
The Nebraska unicameral legislature in 2015 voted to abolish the death penalty, following a number of states that have come to realize that capital punishment is ineffective and a waste of resources. Although Governor Pete Ricketts vetoed the action, the legislature overrode his veto, making Nebraska the eighteenth state (in addition to the District of … Continue reading ““Nebraska” and the Death Penalty”
On Thursday, May 2, 2013, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley signed a bill passed by the state legislature to make Maryland the eighteenth state (along with Washington, D.C.) to abolish capital punishment. In the last decade, six states have recognized that the death penalty is applied unfairly and that it does not make us safer than … Continue reading “The End of Maryland’s Death Penalty and “Green, Green Grass of Home””
Yesterday, the Illinois Legislature passed a bill to abolish the death penalty in that state. In order for the bill to become law, the governor must sign it. The bill now sits on Governor Pat Quinn’s desk, and he has said that he does not yet know what he will do. Illinois has been a … Continue reading “Will Gov. Quinn Sign the Death Penalty Bill?”