Virginia Leads States in Executions

[Freddie Stubbs]

Updated: Sunday, Aug. 8, 2004 - 4:37 PM

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - The first was Capt. George Kendall, a Jamestown councilor killed by firing squad in 1608. The last was on July 22.

Over the past 400 years, Virginia has put to death more men, women and children than any other state, the Death Penalty Information Center reports. The total stands at 1,369.

The youngest known was 12, the oldest 83.

The Death Penalty Information Center, based in Washington, D.C., maintains a database of all executions in the United States since 1976, when the Supreme Court gave the go-ahead for capital punishment after a four-year hiatus.

more: http://www.wtop.com/index.php?nid=25&sid=243494

[liberalitch]

1. here in the old dominion we' ll fry ya....

no doubt about that.
I'm one of those with mixed feelings about the death penalty

[SaveElmer]

2. We have been around the longest

And...we weren't a state until 1776!!

[ContraBass Black]

3. I'm so proud of my state!

My opposition to the death penalty is simple. Before all the moral and ethical arguments, questions or deterrent and cost-effectiveness, fairness of application, and humanity come to consideration, let it be noted that innocent people are being executed. Thus I support an immediate moratorium on executions.

[kegler14]

4. The most startling part of the story

was this part: "Of the 1,369, 1,119 were black..."

I knew the percentage would be high but this is unconscionable. Those numbers alone prove the system isn't fair. Doesn't make me feel good to be a Virginian.

[WMliberal]

5. remember, that doesn't include lynchings

and don't get the DU started on lynching threads!

[malletgirl02]

6. you mean

even Texas has executed less people, than Virginia? I'm so ashame to be a Virginian right now.

[newyawker99]

7. Hi malletgirl02!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[kegler14]

8. Virginia got a head start by a couple hundred years on Texas...