O'Malley cited one reason for repeal of the death penalty is the expense. Please someone tell me how much more expensive is it to house an inmate for life? Heinous crimes involving a first degree murder conviction should carry a death penalty. I think this is a big mistake.

Yet another reason to move to Texas

Just one more reason Maryland goes down the tubes.
WHEN will the people of Maryland WAKE UP and clean house in Annapolis???
Born and raised in Kent County, however, it is painfully obvious the majority of the voting public in Maryland is stupid.

Kill em all!

Tkae Responsibility! says.."Kill them all." Who, the criminals or the politicians, or both?
Again, the criminal has more LIBERAL sympathy than victims and their rights. An eye for an eye.Expense??? It's a ton cheaper than housing them, feeding them, watching them, building libraries for them, providing tv, and ammenities for their comfort!!!! while their victims lie in dark cold boxes without voice or care or company....PUT THOSE THAT DID IT THERE TOO!!!!!

Agree with all of the above. How can housing them for life be cheaper then ending their life NOW.

The real problem is the appeal process. 2-4 years and then the end

Totally for the death penalty. Agree with the comments above. And I don't agree with allowing these criminals 10 appeals in states that have the death penalty. Just treat them the way they treated their victims which landed them in jail In the first place.

Very proud that our Harford County Delegation demonstatrated common sense in voting No. I too would also like to know how it costs more to house a prisoner for life versus execution. Now that this very important deterrent to crime has been removed our Police Officers, Prison Guards and the Public in general are at a lot greater risk of injury and death from some low life criminal. Hopefully this will go to referendum and there are enough people with common sense in Maryland to overturn this. Look up who voted for this and clean house next election. Mr. Owe Malley, go tell the family of someone brutally murdered how you will house the criminal for life and provided free medical and meals and other amenities.

FL Rush,
It is up to us, the voters, to make sure this repeal goes to referendum. Well done Harford County Representatives!!!

Too expensive to carry out capital punishment? Put in an express lane like Texas did.

I have compassion for criminals, too. That's why I think the worst of them are so evil that even other criminals shouldn't be forced to live among them. When an incarcerated person gets killed in prison at the hands of another prisoner, it is a state imposed death penalty, only that kind is a lot more unjust, arbitrary and cowardly.

They got it right this time! The killing of any human being in "cold" blood should be dealt with supreme punishment. The life long pain and suffering families and friends endure is nothing to life in prison to the murderer who has no honest remorse. The gov. got it wrong again. You cannot possibly save taxpayer money on pro longing a murderer's life in prison when you add up the daily food, board, and detention law officers' salaries to watch them. Fear of the consequences in wrong doing helps to keep our society a little safer since law enforcement officers cannot be every where all the time, they relie on this "fear" factor. ex. We do 65 on the inter state because we don't know if we'll get caught trying our luck at 80 by that state trooper who may not be in the line of sight. The same applies to any mass murderer killing innocent children or taking sniper attacks on civilians. With the death penalty we have the fear factor in place that will make that person think twice before aiming his fire arm at another human being, outside of self defense.
I'm worried about the judicial system if this repeal goes through. Will a convicted murderer only get sentenced on a lesser charge and not life if he makes a plea bargain with his attorney? The system is not perfect and I hope and pray no innocent individual is wrongly sentenced to death without extensive investigation and reliable DNA testing but it's all we have in this society to keep it safe for ourselves and the children.

Did everybody notice that Del. Pat McDonough did not appear for the vote? He must have been looking for thugs in Downtown Baltimore that day or getting ready for a St. Patrick Day blowout.

The death penatly WOULD be a deterrent if it was used!!!! O'malley is an ass. I think ALL the senators, etc. should serve for only 2 years., including Congressman.
Don't understand HOW it is more expensive to execute a criminal than keep the lousy sob alive! They can get their education, health care, food, dentistry, etc. all FREE. Hmm, I have a $4500.00 deductible before ANYTHING is covered. This is completly screwed up!
For the bleeding hearts who say it's better to keep them alive, and that it's inhumane to kill them. Never have understood this. I say kill them just like they killed their victims. Eye for an eye? Our legal system is a total joke.

LIFE in prison is probably better than what the murdered had before he killed someone. Look at the Newtown school shooter, or the guy who took out a theater full of people. If they don't get the death penalty they have room, meals, recreation, TV, air conditioning and heat and don't forget they have every opportunity to escape. I believe they should be sent to God for trial... going down?

I am very disappointed that our Harford County delegation for not voting to repeal the death penalty. It is a barbaric practice not practiced in any other civilized country. You are so concerned about the government interfering with your lives and fail to understand the ultimate interference is being able to kill you. Prosecutors cannot be trusted to use their discretion wisely since they have abandoned their responsibility and are driven by media influence and their political agenda. The death penalty is not a deterrent; when a murder is committed the person is not worried about the death penalty because they do not expect to get caught. It is expensive because the trials are expensive with experts on both sides for both the trial and death penalty phases. They last longer than other trials and therefore cause other cases to be postponed, which costs money. The appeal process is long and expensive with lawyers on both sides and multiple court filings. This also uses a significant amount of judicial resources and causes delays in the judicial system. They are also more likely to win a new trial on appeal which means the government bears the cost of another lengthy trial. Remember Kirk Bloodsworth was proven innocent but was on death row and had 3 trials. If it weren't for judges mistakes and unethical conduct of prosecutors being discovered he would be dead. An innocent person killed by the government. That is one too many.

I'm sure I can deduce from this that you are also against abortion...the taking of a sweet and innocent life simply for the sake of convenience. lol