Capital punishment is kaput

*Apologies for the lack of updating. I know I don't usually delve into the personal here, so I'll just leave it at sickness, work and the holidays are taking their toll on my brain. Thanks for still visiting!

Today, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine signed legislation banning the death penalty in the Garden State. Eight men, formally sitting on death row, will now instead spend life in prison without parole.

Included in those criminals is Jesse Timmendequas, the convicted sex offender who raped and murdered 7-year-old Megan Kanka more than 10 years ago. That case lead to "Megan's Law," which requires neighbors to be alerted when a sex offender moves into the neighborhood.

Tell me this is not one of the scariest guys you've ever seen.

New Jersey becomes first state to ban capital punishment since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated it in 1976, and the 14th to not use it altogether.

Touchy subject, but I'm still torn on the death penalty. My co-workers today were debating and it came down to a desire for vengeance versus the (sometimes small) possibility that that convicted person could be innocent and put to wrongly put to death.

Thoughts anyone? Or are we only prone to comment on less weighty issues? Which is perfectly fine, because I'm sure another innocuous post will soon be on its way, heh.