Post by SoulTrainOz on Jun 13, 2006 21:37:18 GMT -5
As Senate Republicans push two death penalty bills, Assembly Democrats are expressing reservations about restoring it, including making it a capital crime to kill a police officer.
The parents of one of those officers killed in the line of duty came to town today to make the case for it.
David Corr choked back tears but his wife could not as they stood before reporters talking about the death of their son, Joseph, a Utica-area police officer shot and killed in February.
David Corr/Father of Slain Police Officer: “Joe did what he had to do and he did it willingly and bravely because it was his duty.”
David Corr says it is the duty of the state Senate and Assembly to pass a bill that would make anyone who kills a police officer or corrections officer eligible for the death penalty.
David Corr: “We send our best young men and women out to the front lines every day to defend and protect against that small, reprehensible number within our society that preys upon the innocent.”
Back in December, this topic came up for debate in a special session called by the governor -- but did not make it through to him to be signed into law.
Now, lawmakers say without a deterrent to protect the front line in our defense against crime, the majority in society that follows the law is even more at risk.
Sen. Joseph Bruno/R-Majority Leader: “We don't have law enforcement if people with inpunity can kill someone that's trying to protect the innocents in society.”
Sen. Raymond Meier/R-Oneida County: “We as a society need to say -- you attack one of these, you are not just attacking one person, one life. You attack our community. You attack our state. You attack society as a whole.”
The other bill corrects technical problems with the death penalty law overturned two years ago -- ending a mandatory sentence of life with a chance for parole if a jury does not reach a unanimous decision.
Back to the Assembly -- a spokeswoman told me late today they did take up a death penalty bill in the codes committee today, but voted not to send it to the floor.
Source: www.fox23news.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=51856B59-28BC-48EF-A2E9-F0FC4ABB455D
The parents of one of those officers killed in the line of duty came to town today to make the case for it.
David Corr choked back tears but his wife could not as they stood before reporters talking about the death of their son, Joseph, a Utica-area police officer shot and killed in February.
David Corr/Father of Slain Police Officer: “Joe did what he had to do and he did it willingly and bravely because it was his duty.”
David Corr says it is the duty of the state Senate and Assembly to pass a bill that would make anyone who kills a police officer or corrections officer eligible for the death penalty.
David Corr: “We send our best young men and women out to the front lines every day to defend and protect against that small, reprehensible number within our society that preys upon the innocent.”
Back in December, this topic came up for debate in a special session called by the governor -- but did not make it through to him to be signed into law.
Now, lawmakers say without a deterrent to protect the front line in our defense against crime, the majority in society that follows the law is even more at risk.
Sen. Joseph Bruno/R-Majority Leader: “We don't have law enforcement if people with inpunity can kill someone that's trying to protect the innocents in society.”
Sen. Raymond Meier/R-Oneida County: “We as a society need to say -- you attack one of these, you are not just attacking one person, one life. You attack our community. You attack our state. You attack society as a whole.”
The other bill corrects technical problems with the death penalty law overturned two years ago -- ending a mandatory sentence of life with a chance for parole if a jury does not reach a unanimous decision.
Back to the Assembly -- a spokeswoman told me late today they did take up a death penalty bill in the codes committee today, but voted not to send it to the floor.
Source: www.fox23news.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=51856B59-28BC-48EF-A2E9-F0FC4ABB455D