Governor Perry Commutes Death Sentence

We should be on the alert for flying pigs....Texas has, with full opportunity and authority to execute someone, refused to do so. Governor Perry decided, at the last minute, that a death row inmate who indisputably never killed anyone, but was riding in the car with the shooter, did not deserve the death penalty, and commuted the inmate's sentence to life in prison. The inmate received the death penalty under the Texas law that attributes the acts of other conspirators to each participant in the criminal scheme. So, he's legally guilty of capital murder, but should not be executed.

In his inimitable style, Perry expressed concern over multiple defendants in a death penalty case, and failed to acknowledge the more obvious issue that there are both constitutional and moral problems will an execution of a person who did not take a life. Of course, Perry merely suggested that the Legislature examine the problem, and did not commit to withhold his veto on any fair and reasonable legislative solution.