The House of Delegates voted to ban capital punishment on Friday. They voted 82 to 56 on the bill that has been passed by the senate. It will now be sent to Governor Martin O’Malley who is expected to sign it.
Supporters of the repeal argue that capital punishment is costly, racially biased, and error-prone. Opponents claim that it is a necessary punishment for those who commit society’s worst crimes.
Maryland currently has 5 men on death row, with the last execution taking place in 2005. With the bill passed, criminals now face life imprisonment instead of the death penalty. Maryland is now the 18th state to eliminate capital punishment.
