25 years ago on May 25, 1979, the State of Florida carried forth the first involuntary execution since the US Supreme Court lifted the ban on capital punishment. On May 25, 2004 Florida will execute convicted child molester John Blackwelder. Blackwelder has asked to be executed and has waived any appeals. Since the reinstatement of the death penalty 25 years ago, Florida has executed 58. It also leads the nation in the number of individuals freed from death row with 25. For you numbers people, 25 is almost 50% of 58.

Florida marks anniversary of death penalty