Title:
Attempt to Impose Death Penalty Offends Michigan Constitution
Author:
Ghazey Aleck
Date:
2/18/2002
Year:
2002
Article:
02/18/2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Ghazey Aleck
1-800-608-7375
The Libertarian party sympathizes with the family of Rachel Timmerman. Her killer should be punished to the fullest extent of Michigan law. However, the Libertarian Party of Michigan does not believe that our federal government should circumvent the Michigan Constitution by attempting to impose the death penalty for a crime that occurs in Michigan.
Marvin Charles Gabrion II, who is charged with the death of the 19 year old Rachel Timmerman, should not be charged with the death penalty. The voters of Michigan have chosen not to have a death penalty. To have the federal government come in here and run rough shot over our state constitution is unconscionable and intolerable.
In 1846, just 9 years after becoming a state, Michigan became the first English speaking government in the world to outlaw capital punishment for all crimes except treason against the state.
Federal prosecutors are going to face a huge uphill battle to even prove this murder occurred in the Manistee National forest in the first place. So while federal prosecutors waste taxpayer dollars because they think this murder occurred within a federal jurisdiction, we do know it happened in Michigan.
The Libertarian Party of Michigan is demanding that Governor John Engler do what he was elected to do. Uphold the Michigan Constitution and represent the citizens who elected him. Stand up to your friend, President George W. Bush, and remind him that this is Michigan, not Texas.
According to Libertarian Party of Michigan Chairman Ghazey Aleck, “It doesn’t matter what side of the death penalty debate you come down on. Governor John Engler must uphold the Constitution of the State of Michigan and thereby represent the will of Michigan voters by ensuring that there is no death penalty in this case.”
