The U.S. Should Follow Benin's Lead

The West African nation of Benin has abolished the death penalty.  “Benin wants to promote human dignity and progressive development of human rights,” the president of the Parliament declared.  Thus, Benin will become the 74th country to join the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which calls for the death penalty to be abolished.  The last execution in Benin took place in 1987, and there are 14 people on Benin's death row.

There were 46 executions in the United States last year and 32 so far this year.  There are over 3000 men and women on death row in this country.    

Last year, 23 countries carried out executions.  The list of those with more than ten, in descending order:  China, Iran, North Korea, Yemen, THE UNITED STATES, Saudi Arabia, Libya and Syria.

Need I say more.