With two days left in office, Illinois Governor George Ryan commuted the sentences of all inmates on the state's death row to life in prison without parole, declaring that the state's capital punishment system was "haunted by the demon of error." His action, which is immune from challenge, infuriated death penalty supporters, but is being hailed by death penalty opponents as a "wake up call to the nation." Currently, 38 states have the death penalty; 12 do not.

Bob Abernethy talks with "Chicago Tribune" reporter Steve Mills about the intense national debate over capital punishment sparked by Governor Ryan's actions and how the recent announcement by Maryland Governor-elect Robert Ehrlich that he will lift the moratorium on executions may impact this debate.

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week620/perspectives.html