Colorado poised to become u s 22nd state with no death penalty

That's correct! Colorado is on the verge of becoming the 22nd state in the United States to abolish the death penalty. On March 16, 2020, the Colorado House of Representatives passed a bill to repeal the state's death penalty law, and the bill is now headed to the state Senate for consideration.

The bill, HB20-1274, would replace the death penalty with a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. The legislation is sponsored by Democratic Representative Matt Gray and has the support of Governor Jared Polis, who has pledged to sign the bill into law if it reaches his desk.

Colorado has not executed anyone since 1997, and the state's death penalty law has been criticized for being costly and prone to errors. In recent years, several high-profile cases have raised questions about the fairness and effectiveness of the death penalty system in Colorado.

If the bill becomes law, Colorado would join a growing list of states that have abolished the death penalty, including California, Oregon, and Washington. Other states, such as New Hampshire and New Jersey, have also considered repealing their death penalty laws in recent years.

It's worth noting that while the death penalty is a controversial issue, there are also arguments in favor of its use, including the idea that it can serve as a deterrent to crime and provide justice for victims and their families. However, opponents of the death penalty argue that it is a flawed and inhumane system that is prone to errors and disproportionately affects certain communities.