posted 09-24-2002 06:23 PM               

The Associated Press
Tuesday, September 24, 2002; 3:41 PM

MONTPELIER, Vt. –– A federal judge declared the federal death penalty unconstitutional Tuesday in the second such ruling in less than three months.

U.S. District Judge William Sessions said the law does not adequately protect defendants' rights.

"If the death penalty is to be part of our system of justice, due process of law and the fair trial guarantees of the Sixth Amendment require that standards and safeguards governing the kinds of evidence juries may consider must be rigorous, and constitutional rights and liberties scrupulously protected," he said.

On July, U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff in New York City became the first federal judge to declare the 1994 Death Penalty Act unconstitutional. He cited evidence indicating that innocent people have been put to death.

The rulings will not affect individual states' death penalty statutes. Thirty-eight states allow capital punishment, though some have not executed anyone for many years. The governors of Illinois and Maryland have placed moratoriums on executions in their states.

Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh and drug killer Juan Garza have been executed under the federal death penalty law.

Tuesday's ruling came in the case of Donald Fell, 22, who is facing the death penalty for allegedly kidnapping and killing a woman in 2000

posted 09-25-2002 01:00 AM            

Eat meat...Pack heat. "Ted Nugent"
http://www.keepandbeararms.com Your second ammendment rights, our nations original homeland security.

Capital punishment isn't only just it's biblical. No, I won't debate it, take it to the Holy Bible and prayer, that's the position I'd debate anyway.

The 2nd ammendment tie comes in with the right to self defense...personal self defense! Handguns protect your person, shotguns protect your property, rifles protect your liberty.

America is at that awkward stage, it is too late to work within the system but too early to shoot the bastards... Clair Wolfe 101 Things to do 'Til the Revolution

Writing your congress critter does no good!

And just cause I'm on a roll and so sick of this PC, gumbayah, it takes a village, let's feed the world, bilderbergermeister, burkenstock wearing , granola eatin' (OK I like granola)
global whining tripe!!! I'm going to reprint one more time this unknown author's Bill of Non rights that should be taught in every public school just so no one misses it...These should be chiseled in granite on walls everywhere.

We, the sensible of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone
get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid any more riots, keep
our nation safe, promote positive behavior and secure the blessings of
debt-free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great grandchildren,
hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some common sense
guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt-ridden delusional, and other
liberal, commie, socialist, pinko bedwetters.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that a whole lot of people were
confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim that they require a Bill
of No Rights.

Article I
You do not have the right to a new car, big-screen color TV or any other
form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but
no one is guaranteeing anything.

Article II
You do not have the right to never be offended. This country is based on
freedom, and that means freedom for everyone -- not just you! You may
leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, or keep
your mouth shut, but the world is full of idiots, and probably always
will be.

Article III
You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a
screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful, do not expect the
tool manufacturer to make you and all of your relatives independently
wealthy from your own stupidity.

Article IV
You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the
most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need,
but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after
generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than
the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes.

Article V
You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but
from the looks of public housing, we're just not interested in public
health care.

Article VI
You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you
kidnap, rape, intentionally maim or kill someone, don't be surprised if
the rest of us get together and kill you.

Article VII
You do not have the right to the possessions of others. If you rob,
cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don't be
surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place
where you still won't have the right to a big-screen color TV or a life
of leisure.

Article VIII
You do not have the right to demand that our children risk their lives
in foreign wars to soothe your aching conscience. We hate oppressive
governments and won't lift a finger to stop you from going to fight if
you'd like. However, we do not enjoy parenting the entire world and do
not want to spend so much of our time battling each and every little
tyrant with a military uniform and a funny hat.

Article IX
You do not have the right to a job. All of us sure want you to have one,
and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take
advantage of the opportunities in education and vocational training laid
before you to make yourself useful.

Article X
You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you
have the right to pursue happiness -- which, by the way, is a lot easier
if you are unencumbered by an overabundance of idiotic laws created by
those around you who were confused by the original Bill of Rights.
-Author Unknown-