Representative Gail Beam introduced a bill that would...

Representative Gail Beam introduced a bill that would repeal the New Mexico's capital-punishment law.
"The time has come for New Mexico to join with enlightened nations of the world, including the European Union," said Beam, D- Albuquerque told opponents of the death penalty rallying in the Capitol.
However, most observers think Beam's House Bill 377 faces an uphill battle.
For one thing, Gov. Bill Richardson said several times he supports the death penalty - and has even endorsed the idea of expanding the current law to make the killing of a child grounds for execution.
Several lawmakers already have introduced bills to that effect, including Senate Democratic Whip Mary Jane Garcia of Dona Ana.
On the House side, Rep. Joe Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, introduced a bill to add to the list of crimes eligible for capital punishment such offenses as planning and/or carrying out terrorist killings, killings of two or more in a single incident and political assassinations.
Still Beam and her supporters on this issue insist the time is right for passing the repeal bill. She noted that the new governor has said he is for the death penalty only when it is applied fairly.
"The fact is, that doesn't happen," she said.
Richardson reiterated his support for the death penalty but declined to say whether he'd veto a repeal. One hopeful sign - even though Republicans tend to support capital punishment more than Democrats - the repeal movement has picked up one more GOP supporter.
Freshman Rep. Teresa Zanetti, R-Albuquerque, was one of 25 co- sponsors signing HB377. "My great concern is that an innocent person could be convicted and executed," said Zanetti..
The only other Republican among the co-sponsors is Rep. Dub Williams of Glencoe, who has opposed the death penalty for years.
The bill would establish a penalty of life without parole. Currently, someone sentenced to life in this state is eligible for parole after serving 30 years.
Similar bills have failed in the past. In 2001, a repeal bill was defeated in the state Senate by one vote.