Illinois Abolishes Its Death Penalty -- 15 On Death Row Get Life Without Parole

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - After two decades of debate about the risk of executing an innocent person, Illinois abolished the death penalty Wednesday, a decision certain to fuel renewed calls for other states to do the same.

Gov. Pat Quinn, a Democrat who has long supported capital punishment, looked drained moments after signing the historic legislation. Lawmakers sent him the measure in January, but Quinn went through two months of intense personal deliberation before acting. He called it the most difficult decision he has made as governor.

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Illinois Abolishes Its Death Penalty -- 15 On Death Row Get Life Without Parole

"If the system can't be guaranteed, 100 percent error-free, then we shouldn't have...

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