Connecticut Becomes 17th State to Abolish the Death Penalty

Qui transtulit sustinet
Translation of the motto Qui Transtulit Sustinet has be variously defined as "He Who Transplanted Still Sustains" and "He Who Transplanted Continues to Sustain". As the story of the battles in Lexinton and Concord spread throughout the colonies, local militias prepared. In an April 23, 1775 letter stamped in Whethersfield, Connecticut, it was written, "We fix on our Standards and Drums the Colony arms, with the motto, Qui Transtulit Sustinet, round it in letters of gold, which we construe thus: God, who transplanted us hither, will support us."
Sigillum Reipublicae Connecticutensis
The Seal of the Republic of Connecticut. Does that mean the considered themselves a Republic? Was that the same as a State? Fascinating stuff.
The LA Times reports

Connecticut has become the 17th state to repeal the death penalty, with lawmakers voting 86-62 on the measure after a marathon debate that stretched into the night and revived memories of some of the state's most heinous crimes.
Gov. Dannel Malloy has said he will sign the bill, which passed the House on Wednesday night, six days after the Senate approved it. The bill replaces capital punishment with life in prison without the possibility of parole, but it only applies to future cases and has no effect on the 11 men on death row in Connecticut.

I must admit, as much as I applaud this decision, it's a bit disheartening that the right to carry concealed weapons with no permit is increasing faster than the abolition of capital punishment.
But, I have hope that the one will come back around in Obama's second term, and that gradually more and more states will move themselves into the 21st century which has no room for revenge killings and state sanctioned murder.
What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.