An effort is underway in the State Senate to impose a two year moratorium on use of the death penalty. The effort is put forward by Senator Mary Bland of Kansas City, who says the state must do everything possible to ensure innocent people are not being executed. Her bill would put a freeze on all executions for the next two years. Bland is opposed the death penalty – period. But she says she would be willing to accept it under certain narrow circumstances, such as when a person who is sane admits freely that he or she is responsible for a murder. Bland concedes her bill faces an uphill battle. But she points toIllinois, which has recently slapped a moratorium on executions until it can be determined that innocent people are not being put to death.
