Animation of the structure of a section of DNA. The bases lie horizontally between the two spiraling strands.
The Florida legislature has passed a bill to prevent condemned killers from spending decades on death row. Supporters claim that letting them hang on for years, filing appeal after appeal, does injustice to the families of victims. Opponents claim that it's more likely to lead to execution of innocent people, citing exoneration from DNA evidence while ignoring the fact that such exonerations occurred when people were tried and found guilty before the advent of DNA evidence. DNA is now standard; greatly reducing the likelihood of erroneous prosecutions.
"Only God can judge," Matt Gaetz, a Republican who sponsored the bill in the House of Representatives, said last week during House debate. "But we sure can set up the meeting."
The governor is expected to sign the bill.
