OCTOBER 9

On this date in 1981, France abolished capital punishment.  I thought it might be interesting to discover where the world now stands on it. 

Fifty-six countries retain the right to apply capital punishment while 103 have completely abolished it.  Six countries have abolished it for ordinary crimes but retain it for special circumstances.  Thirty other countries have no law against it but have abolished it in practice.

All of the European countries and Russia (the Soviet Union) have abolished capital punishment.  In the U.S., states control the use of it - it is legal in 36 of our 50 states right now with four of those states having stopped the use by governor's decree.  Here are some of the countries that stand with the U.S. in not abolishing it:  China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Pakistan, Egypt, Somalia, Afghanistan, and North Korea.   Not good company. 
😞