I’m befuddled how the Governor thinks this better protects officers, but that is a side issue—The State of Illinois, counter to my prediction, has passed a sweeping reform of the Death Penalty. Kudos (ed. props are for late night beer induced posts) to State Senators Barack Obama and John Cullerton who did much of the heavy lifting on the bill. While I’m adamantly opposed to the death penalty, this is a wonderful step forward.