Although not everyone was happy with his decision, including some Democrats, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn put the kibosh on capital punishment with a new state law Wednesday. Only 34 more states to go. –KA

Watch Gov. Quinn explain his decision in a video after the excerpt below.

Reuters via Google News:

When the law signed by Democratic Governor Pat Quinn takes effect on July 1, Illinois will become the fourth state in the past two years to dispense with the death penalty after New York, New Jersey and New Mexico.

“To have a consistent, perfect death penalty system … that’s impossible in our state,” Quinn told reporters. “I think it’s the right and just thing to abolish the death penalty and punish those who commit heinous crimes — evil people — with life in prison without parole and no chance of release.”

The ultimate punishment will remain an option in 34 states and for federal inmates. No other Western democracies carries out executions.

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