Supreme Court Gives the OK to Proceed with Executions
News in Brief: Lethal Injection Ruled Not Cruel and Unusual for Humans
According to The New York Times, yesterday, in a vote of 7-2, the court has decided that executions may resume. Inmates from Kentucky, Ralph Baze, along with Ralph Bowling challenged the Supreme Court in a law suit claiming that the three drug cocktail was indeed cruel and unusual. They lost.
Although the court claims it's not cruel and unusual, according to The Texas Gazette most veterinarians are not allowed to use the same method to euthanize an animal. And in Texas, the state called "the busiest killing state," one has to receive a license in order to be a technician to euthanize an animal. It takes up to 2 years of study to receive this license. The executioner and his team are untrained and carry no license to kill. Medical staff are not allowed to assist in executions as it goes against their code of ethics.
Botched executions are common in the nation and many abolitionist claim it is the use of lethal injection. The thought of an inmate being paralyzed by the first drug, unable to move or speak out, while the remaining drugs flow through their veins, is cruel and unusual in some peoples opinions. It's not allowed for animals, so why should it be allowed for humans?
In December of 2006, an inmate in Florida, Angel Diaz was administered lethal injection and it took over a half hour for him to die. According to reports from St. Petersburg Times, a second dose of the drug was given to Diaz, who appeared to be in much pain. This is not the first botched execution in our nation. Many of the offenders have collapsed veins from intensive drug use and makes it difficult to administer the 3 drugs. Ohio botched the execution of Christopher Newton when they could not find a vein, and it took 2 hours to execute him.
The decision of the Supreme Court will be honored, and Governors from the different states like Texas according to The Staesman.com newsand Virginia according to The Washington Post have already reinstated executions, but in some peoples eyes, it will always be cruel and unusual. Is there a humane way to execute someone? Or is it the biggest oxymoron ever, "Humane Execution."
Sources:
Associated Content
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/111312/lethal_injection_is_it_really_cruel.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/103961/florida_executes_inmate_twice.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/257629/ohio_botches_execution_again.html?cat=2
Texas Gazette
St.Petersburg Time
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/12/13/State/Executed_man_takes_34.shtml
Statesman.com
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/04/17/0417texscotus.html
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/16/AR2008041601891.html
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/17/us/16cnd-scotus.html?ex=1366084800&en=c3b11f0246be22c2&ei=5124&partner=digg&exprod=digg
Published by Dee
I am a prison activist/advocate writing about prison issues, hoping to make awareness, and bring reform. One out of every thirty-two people in the USA are currently on parole, probation or in prison. I am ow... View profile
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15 Comments
Post a CommentMatt, Bush appointed David Souter to the court. Breyer was appointed by Clinton. Souter was President Bush's "mistake."
Thanking everyone for the comments, I really appreciate them
Oops. Meant to say Old Bush considered choosing Breyer to be his biggest mistake.
Hi Dee. I wanted to fire a brick at my TV set, on CBS's report. They didn't even report which justices voted which way. I suppose Stevens is getting old and stupid. One scary point is that if Old Bush didn't make his "biggest mistake," it would have been 8-1. Naturally, the only woman being the one who knows better.
This is monstrous I have to say that I am not totally against the death penalty, but not for punishment, but in cases like Ted bundy where he escaped and went on another killing rampage, If they can not keep them totally imprisoned then it is a necessity to protect the public, but that is very very unlikely scenario. Otherwise it is monstrous.
A overdose of opiates would be painless, but legalities of non-medical personnel handling such drugs would make it impossible. Maybe Dr. Kevorkian could help. I'm opposed to the death penalty generally but in some cases, such as Timothy McVeigh's (he wanted to be executed as soon after his trial as possible) or in cases of war-criminals, it still has validity. What really amazes me is that they put people on suicide watch on death row, robbing the condemned prisoner of even that final act of individual will Some writers have used the term "thanatocracy," (government by death) to describe what this society is coming to. The US ranks number 5 in executions. China is number 1, with an estimated 470 executions, Iran comes in second at 317, Saudi Arabia is third, at 143, Pakistan ranks fourt with 135. The US come in 5th with a mere 42, but that's one hell of a club to belong to, and if things keep going on like this, we will be able to compete with communist dictatorships and Islamic Theoc
This was a bad decision... Great article Dee!
Not too cruel should have been the correct answer with this verdict!
Excellent reporting on a very hotly debated issue.
a great informative article, its a shame the Gov dont take their blinkers from over their eyes and see if its not ok to kill animals this way why would it be ok to kill humans?????