# Gov Newsom cancels Death Penalty **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 14, 2019, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-newsom-cancels-death-penalty/831109 "2019-03-14T02:42:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-newsom-cancels-death-penalty/831109/1 "2019-03-14T02:42:45Z")
> **[‘Ineffective, irreversible and immoral:’ Gavin Newsom halts death penalty for...](https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article227489844.html)** > > When Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order Wednesday putting a moratorium on the death penalty in California, he called it the culmination of a personal, 40-year journey. However:\*While campaigning for the death penalty repeal measure in 2016, Newsom told The Modesto Bee editorial board he would “be accountable to the will of the voters” on the death penalty if he became governor. \* and in 2016 the voters passed a initiative in 2016 that demanded to speed up executions in California. There have been two initiatives to end the DP, both failed. So, is Newsom accountable to the will of the voters? Or should he follow his own conscience? My own thoughts are that he should be accountable to the will of the voters, but of course he could commute sentences. And there is a new initiative in 2020, so he should wait before ignoring what the voters want. Note that in CA, unlike Texas, very few people are given the DP, just the worst of the worst. CA has had very few DP sentences that later turned out to be innocent, and of course none that were executed and later found innocent. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-newsom-cancels-death-penalty/831109/2 "2019-03-14T02:53:01Z")
He’s already accountable to the will of the voters. If they feel it’s important enough to vote him out of office next time, they can certainly do so. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-newsom-cancels-death-penalty/831109/3 "2019-03-14T02:57:24Z")
I’m not surprised, but I am disappointed. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-newsom-cancels-death-penalty/831109/4 "2019-03-14T03:00:57Z")
Although California has the highest population of any state there have only been 13 executions since 1976 and the last one was in 2006. > **[Capital punishment in California](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_California#Executions_after_1976)** > > In the U.S. state of California, capital punishment is a legal penalty. However it is not allowed to be carried out as of March 2019,\[update\] because executions were halted by an official moratorium ordered by Governor Gavin Newsom. Prior to the moratorium, executions were frozen by a federal court order since 2006, and the litigation resulting in the court order has been on hold since the promulgation of the moratorium. Thus, there will be a court-ordered moratorium on executions after the te... So this doesn’t have much practical significance. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-newsom-cancels-death-penalty/831109/5 "2019-03-14T03:22:51Z")
The death penalty is morally wrong. I’m glad to see a politician doing what’s morally right for once. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-newsom-cancels-death-penalty/831109/6 "2019-03-14T03:38:43Z")
While I see the case for DP for only the worst of the worst, I support this decision. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-newsom-cancels-death-penalty/831109/7 "2019-03-14T03:48:16Z")
He’s accountable to the will of the voters who oppose the death penalty. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-newsom-cancels-death-penalty/831109/8 "2019-03-14T04:51:36Z")
The majority of California voters are in favor of the death penalty, so if he’s accountable to the will of the voters, he has no right to overrule them. > **[Politicians don’t normally overrule voters. On the death penalty, Gavin...](https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-governor-gavin-newsom-california-death-row-moratorium-20190313-story.html)** > > Gov. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-newsom-cancels-death-penalty/831109/9 "2019-03-14T05:05:17Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > The death penalty is morally wrong. I’m glad to see a politician doing what’s morally right for once. Hard disagree. The death penalty is the only just punishment for certain individuals. You may as well not even bother jailing them if your idea of punishment is a guaranteed roof over your head, three meals a day, government-funded healthcare, and never having to work another day in your life. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-newsom-cancels-death-penalty/831109/10 "2019-03-14T05:18:57Z")
Oh, yeah, prison’s like a spa retreat :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-newsom-cancels-death-penalty/831109/11 "2019-03-14T05:30:58Z")
> [@Enola\_Gay](#): > > The majority of California voters are in favor of the death penalty, so if he’s accountable to the will of the voters, he has no right to overrule them. > > [Politicians don’t normally overrule voters. On the death penalty, Gavin Newsom just did](https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-governor-gavin-newsom-california-death-row-moratorium-20190313-story.html) He has every right afforded to him by the people of California. If Californians are upset by it, they can vote him out, as is THEIR right. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-newsom-cancels-death-penalty/831109/12 "2019-03-14T06:23:05Z")
> [@Enola\_Gay](#): > > The majority of California voters are in favor of the death penalty, so if he’s accountable to the will of the voters, he has no right to overrule them. > > [Politicians don’t normally overrule voters. On the death penalty, Gavin Newsom just did](https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-governor-gavin-newsom-california-death-row-moratorium-20190313-story.html) He has a rught to excercise the powers of his office. Some pro-death penalty voters may even vote for him if his views on other issues align with their own. Saying you “support the death penalty” in a poll doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a big issue for you I’m anti death penalty, but have voted many times for candidates who are not. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-newsom-cancels-death-penalty/831109/13 "2019-03-14T06:37:12Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Oh, yeah, prison’s like a spa retreat :rolleyes: It’s better than being dead. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-newsom-cancels-death-penalty/831109/14 "2019-03-14T06:56:21Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > He has a rught to excercise the powers of his office. Some pro-death penalty voters may even vote for him if his views on other issues align with their own. Saying you “support the death penalty” in a poll doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a big issue for you I’m anti death penalty, but have voted many times for candidates who are not. The death penalty has been on the ballot in California continually. In 2016 CA voters even passed Prop 66 to speed up executions. And twice in the past 15 years, voters rejected measures to abolish the death penalty. I think it’s slimy that during his campaign to run for governor, he acknowledged that although he was personally opposed to it, he would honor the will of the people. Also the death penalty has been on hold since 2006 in CA for other legal reasons, so Newsom’s moratorium will effectively change nothing. This makes me question his motives. ETA I am opposed to the death penalty (for financial, not moral reasons) & voted for Newsom ---
**Author:** ![markdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-newsom-cancels-death-penalty/831109/15 "2019-03-14T07:36:02Z")
He probably could have just come up with very plausible, believable reasons for pardoning every inmate who came close to being executed. He’s just choosing to cut the act. “The will of the people” as an ironclad requirement is pretty hilarious in the age of Trump and Brexit, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-newsom-cancels-death-penalty/831109/16 "2019-03-14T08:10:23Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > It’s better than being dead. That’s not the issue (and is arguable - some may prefer swift death to life in prison). The issue here is whether it’s a big punishment or not. You seem to think it’s a cushy living, when that is just laughable to anyone who knows anything about prison. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-newsom-cancels-death-penalty/831109/17 "2019-03-14T09:04:31Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > CA has had very few DP sentences that later turned out to be innocent, But not zero. It’s impossible to apologise to someone who is dead. Newsom has done the right thing. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-newsom-cancels-death-penalty/831109/18 "2019-03-14T09:11:48Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > But not zero. Care to name one? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-newsom-cancels-death-penalty/831109/19 "2019-03-14T10:58:26Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > You seem to think it’s a cushy living, when that is just laughable to anyone who knows anything about prison. I’ve encountered people in my life for whom imprisonment would have been an improvement on their status quo. It’s certainly a better proposition than sleeping on a street corner and eating out of dumpsters. [People have certainly committed crimes for the specific purpose of being imprisoned for such reasons;](https://www.businessinsider.com/jail-getting-arrested-deliberately-2018-3#to-get-access-to-healthcare-2) > [@](#): > > An unfortunate reality for homeless people is that sometimes, it may seem more appealing to spend the night in jail than on the streets. > > That was the case for Lance Brown, a homeless man from Columbus, Georgia, who in 2012 hurled a brick through the town courthouse building and spent nine months in jail awaiting his trial. > > Brown said he vandalized the building because in jail, “someone’s going to offer me a sandwich and drink.” ---
**Author:** ![SingleMalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/singlemalt/32/3961_2.png) [@SingleMalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SingleMalt)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-newsom-cancels-death-penalty/831109/20 "2019-03-14T13:25:32Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I’ve encountered people in my life for whom imprisonment would have been an improvement on their status quo. It’s certainly a better proposition than sleeping on a street corner and eating out of dumpsters. [People have certainly committed crimes for the specific purpose of being imprisoned for such reasons;](https://www.businessinsider.com/jail-getting-arrested-deliberately-2018-3#to-get-access-to-healthcare-2) … Wait, are you saying that someone will commit a capital crime - murder, mass murder, terrorism, treason, espionage, offenses against the State, such as attempting to overthrow government, piracy, drug trafficking, war crimes, crimes against humanity, etc. - in order to get a jailhouse sandwich? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gov-newsom-cancels-death-penalty/831109.md?page=2)