Some Mass. legislators ask return of death penalty
~~By Maria Armental & By Bob Salsberg
~~By Maria Armental & By Bob Salsberg
BOSTON (Associated Press) -- Some Massachusetts lawmakers, pointing to the events surrounding the Boston Marathon bombing, are calling for a limited reinstatement of the death penalty in the state.
An amendment to the state budget that is currently being debated by the House would allow the death penalty in certain cases including the killing of law enforcement officers.
The lead sponsor, Democratic Rep. James Miceli, emphasized on Tuesday that the amendment was filed several days before the April 15 bombing. But he said the attack shows the measure is now more important than ever.
The amendment mirrors a proposal that was unsuccessfully pushed by then-Gov. Mitt Romney in 2005.
The surviving suspect in the Marathon attack, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, could face the federal death penalty.
Massachusetts abolished the death penalty in 1984.
An amendment to the state budget that is currently being debated by the House would allow the death penalty in certain cases including the killing of law enforcement officers.
The lead sponsor, Democratic Rep. James Miceli, emphasized on Tuesday that the amendment was filed several days before the April 15 bombing. But he said the attack shows the measure is now more important than ever.
The amendment mirrors a proposal that was unsuccessfully pushed by then-Gov. Mitt Romney in 2005.
The surviving suspect in the Marathon attack, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, could face the federal death penalty.
Massachusetts abolished the death penalty in 1984.
Courtesy: Providence Journal
