{ John Paul Stevens } Supreme Court Justice says horse died more humanely than death row prisoners

AP via KnoxNews ^ | 5/10/8

[SmithL]

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) - Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens says the euthanized Kentucky Derby horse Eight Belles probably died more humanely than death row prisoners do.

Stevens drew a round of applause for his comments Friday night in Chattanooga at the 68th conference of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The comments were reported in the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

According to the newspaper, in brief remarks Stevens told the audience he checked into the procedure used to kill Eight Belles and was surprised to learn it is against the law in Kentucky to kill animals using one of the drugs in a three-drug lethal injection cocktail that many states, including Kentucky, use to execute prisoners.

The speech comes on the heels of a Supreme Court ruling that shot down a challenge to the three-drug lethal injection protocol by two Kentucky inmates. Stevens voted with the majority on the question of lethal injections but said for the first time that he now believes the death penalty is unconstitutional.

The conference drew almost 50 federal judges and more than 800 attorneys who practice in the 6th Circuit, which has jurisdiction in Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan.

Stevens presides over the appeals court his position on the Supreme Court.

[SmithL]

Boo Hoo! The horse had a productive life and didn't kill anyone.

[Drango]

Stevens needs to resign or be impeached.

[keving]

She probably killed less people too! Damn sore loser keep you mouth shut!

[GOPJ]

I have absolutely no problem running a serial killer to his death...

[murron]

The horse also died more humanely than the preborn babies who are aborted every day. And with more dignity.

[muawiyah]

Stevens is keeping his mind together just a little bit better than Jimmuh Kkkatuh, but not by much.

He should be outta' there!

[upsdriver]

I think Justice Stevens has something here. Run death row inmates until their legs break, then kill them.

[rlmorel]

If that is the case, we should probably kill the murderers the same way they killed the horse.

[Notwithstanding]

I am ashamed to admit that I got a little excited when I glanced at the headline contianing “John Paul Stevens”, “Supreme Court Justice” and “Died”

Anyone else experience this twinge of pre-mature glee?

[Fighter@heart]

No there’s a great idea!!! GIDDY-UP!!

[IronJack]

Then use the horse-killer on the prisoner.

[Notwithstanding]

MEGA DITTOES BUMP

[vetvetdoug]

As a veterinarian, I agree with Stevens. The use of succinylcholine in the human euthanasia procedure is cruel and inhumane. The person is paralyzed and cannot breathe yet is conscious. I think it would be more humane if they would euthanize the criminals with the same drugs we use on animals. The use of succinylcholine for euthanasia was prohibited by the veterinary profession almost thirty years ago. Stevens knows his drugs and procedures.

[Notwithstanding]

Well put. Concision and wit. Cheers!

[libstripper]

Subhumans do not deserve the humane treatment that’s properly reserved for decent, loving animals whose time has sadly come through no guilt of their own.

[Westlander]

Let’s just go back to strapping prisoners to the front of a cannon.

[Diogenesis]

Did these 3000 die more humanely, Mr. Defender-of-Terrorists-and-Murderers?

[weegee]

How does this compare to say partial birth abortion or the snuffing of a baby that manages to survive an abortion?

[upsdriver]

I prefer public hangings, as in the movie, HANG ‘EM HIGH.

[AmericanVictory]

Or when they inject them with poison in the latter stages of the pregnancy by the use of a super-long hypodermic needle?

[weegee]

"Giddy up!!!"

[svcw]

Wow. I did not know we broke the legs of death row inmates before we execute them - thats kool.

[fhayek]

I have no problem using more humane lethel injections. Just as long as they are used.

[weegee]

The horse also died more humanely than the murder victims of death row inmates.

[Waco]

and piss on their victims too!! don’t forget!!!!

[Jack Black]

John Paul Stevens? I loved his bass playing with Zep, when did he become a vegetarian?

[Fido969]

He’s right. We should break these guys’ legs before we give them the needle.

[NordP]

As it should be...

[True Republican Patriot]

Hopefully someone or group will publish a book with these horrors and DVDs as well along with “THE PATH TO 911” to remind all of the horrors the DEMORATS WANT TO COVER UP AND IGNORE! MAY AMERICA BE SAVED FROM THE DEMORATS!

[chaosagent]

FWIW,

I’ve always wondered why they don’t use the same drugs on inmates as they do on dogs and cats.

Having worked as a Vet assistant during high school and having to have several animals put down over the years, I’ve seen how the animals just get sleepy, fall asleep and never wake up.

The drugs just gradually supress their body functions until they stop breathing. But by then they’re unconcious.

So why don’t they do executions this way?

[proudpapa]

...or die. That’s what most people do when they’re 89.

[Never2baCrat]

<< As a veterinarian, I agree with Stevens. The use of succinylcholine in the human euthanasia procedure is cruel and inhumane. The person is paralyzed and cannot breathe yet is conscious. I think it would be more humane if they would euthanize the criminals with the same drugs we use on animals. The use of succinylcholine for euthanasia was prohibited by the veterinary profession almost thirty years ago. Stevens knows his drugs and procedures. >>

Why should murderers be put to death more humanely than their victims? These ba$tard$ should suffer even more than what their victims went through!

[NordP]

Oh...that’s rich! I LOVE IT....put it on national TV too!

[NordP]

To say NOTHING about how their victims died.

.

And DO NOT give me that two wrongs don't make a right, crap, either!"

[NordP]

Personally, I'm for a program that gives death row inmates the job of killing other death row inmates EXACTLY how their victims were killed.

It's a win...win!

[NordP]

Another great point!

[tlj18]

Inhumane does not equal cruel or unusual. Besides, why do murderers need to die humanely? We need to go back to hangings and shootings as a means of execution. Less than 10% of murderers are executed - that needs to be reversed. AND - executions need to be televised, or at least made available for viewing online.

I'll tell you what's really inhumane - imprisonment as a means of punishment. No! Put them in slave labor camps instead. If they stole money, make them pay it back plus a lot extra.

[Richard Kimball]

Stevens is an excellent example of the chaos that ensues when smart people with no ethics resort to "any argument in a storm." Stevens, as do many liberals, opposes the death penalty. They want it banned as "cruel and unusual punishment" under the Constitution. Unfortunately for them, they lost that argument, and there's little chance of the death penalty itself being overturned. So they now concentrate on whether or not the individual feels pain during the fifteen or so minutes it takes to die.

Obviously, the psychological stress is going to be far worse than any physical pain. In terms of physical pain, the death penalty is no more painful than being put to sleep for surgery. However, despite the fact that the argument is totally bogus, it's maintained some traction in court. The people making the argument know it's bogus, but they'll keep using it as long as they can to delay executions and try to overturn the death penalty.

[rahbert]

That would be my preference as well. Nothing says you effed
up better than the 13 step walk.

[Species8472]

I guess I'm pretty cruel and inhumane too, As a paramedic for 30+ years I've used succinylcholine in hundreds of rapid sequence intubations I've done on human beings. Of course it's in conjunction with sedative agents as well. (Just like executions from what I understand)

NOT impressed with Stevens.

[Grizzled Bear]

The use of succinylcholine in the human euthanasia procedure is cruel and inhumane. The person is paralyzed and cannot breathe yet is conscious. I think it would be more humane if they would euthanize the criminals with the same drugs we use on animals. The use of succinylcholine for euthanasia was prohibited by the veterinary profession almost thirty years ago.

IIRC; the euthanasia execution procedure includes 3 drugs. The first is a heavy sedative. If you've been under general anesthetic you've experienced the criminal's "Trauma".

A few years ago a man on death row chose the electric chair. Immediately before his "appointment" he tried to get his execution stayed due to the method being "cruel."

He had been sentenced to death for raping a woman and torturing her to death. During his crime he repeatedly shocked the woman with electricity...

Pardon me if I don't get caught up in the hype.

[JohnLongIsland]

Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens

This is why we all have to bite the bullet and reluctantly cast our vote for McLame.

[Grizzled Bear]

This is why we all have to bite the bullet and reluctantly cast our vote for McLame.

Any chance he might pull a "Sandra Day" on us?

[ApplegateRanch]

If the death penalty is unconstitutional, why does the Constitution specify it for certain crimes?

Why are judges, especially Federal Appellates and Supremes, so illiterate that they do not understand the difference between "and" and "or", as in "...cruel and unusual punishment..."?

Until they stuck their straws in the septic tank and stirred before drinking, the death penalty was not unusual. It is 'profiting from their own crime' to first ban it, then claim it is 'unusual'; therefore, 'cruel' should not be coming into play at all.

[Williams]

His comment is a great illustration of the left’s selective and skewed moral perspective.

[Eddie01]

FIRST break both ankles of the condemned, THEN give them the injections?

I am fine with that.

[GoldenPup]

So lets start shooting convicted murders...quicker and much less fuss. Not to mention cheaper. Guilty = BANG!!!!

Bed wetters amd hand wringers...UP YOURS !!!

[ApplegateRanch]

The person is paralyzed and cannot breathe yet is conscious.

Yeah, so? The VICTIM was probably also paralyzed...with fear; unable to breathe, but conscious. Oh, that's right; that is just the victim.

That's why we call it the CRIMINAL justice system; victims do not have rights, nor count.

If the criminal suffers a short bit, too damned bad. The Constitution specifies "cruel AND unusual", no matter how hard 'they' try to turn that "AND" into an "OR". The more they suffer, and the quicker they die, the better. Just put them out of our misery as expeditiously as possible...it makes it just that much sooner that they can cry on God's shoulder, before being kicked into The Pit.

ITMT, please continue to euthanize innocent, suffering animals as humanely as possible.

[Westlander]

This would be fun to watch-

[Auntie Mame]

I second your question about why executions aren’t done like we put down our beloved animals. Do you think it’s because the government (i.e., a bunch of people who couldn’t get work in the private sector who are best at shuffling paper) decided what drugs to use?

It really doesn’t make any sense.