Firing squad in Utah may finally die - Utah studying changes in execution methods

Deseret News ^ | 08/06/03 | Jennifer Dobner

[Paleo Conservative]

I prefer drawing and quartering myself.

[bedolido]

"Just do it"...to quote Gary Gilmore.

lol... is that where Nike' got that?

[Pan_Yans Wife]

ping

[bedolido]

I prefer drawing and quartering myself.

Why would you draw and quarter yourself? (*sarcasm*)... should there have been a comma before myself?

[Paleo Conservative]

"I prefer drawing and quartering myself."

Why would you draw and quarter yourself? (*sarcasm*)... should there have been a comma before myself?

Now that I reread it, I get your point. I think I need another cup of coffee.

[bedolido]

Now that I reread it, I get your point. I think I need another cup of coffee.

Just kidding my friend...

[You Dirty Rats]

Utah is a Real Man state.

But they only give you one bullet. Can they afford it?

They should use Uzis.

[GovernmentShrinker]

This Utah law has religious origins in the old Mormon doctrine of blood atonement. Since there are a significant number of Utahns who still believe in this doctrine (mostly members of the fringe fundamentalist Mormon groups, and not of the main LDS Church), it's reasonable to provide this method as an option (especially since members of those fringe groups seem disproportionately inclined to commit capital crimes). Attempting to remove it as an option is likely to lead to some long drawn-out lawsuits in which condemned convicts make a not entirely frivolous argument that their religious rights are being violated if they are not given a "blood atonement" option. Hence abolishing the option would serve little purpose except to delay the imposition of some death sentences.

For more detail: http://www.realmormonhistory.com/blood_atonement.htm

[Eva]

Blood atonement is what the book described. The author thought that his brother had committed murder so that the state would execute him and he would acheive atonement for his wasted life of crime.

[XJarhead]

Followed up with the ole chainsaw....

Seriously, though, the sanitization of the death penalty process is a disgrace. By implementing such "humane" methods of execution, and by doing them behind closed doors. It reduces the deterrent effect of the punishment. It also hides the reality of the death penalty from the public, reducing the legitimate moral debate as to whether it should occur. The way I figure it, both supporters and opponents should be in favor of more public executions.

[corkoman]

I say we give him the COMFY CHAIR!

[TexasRepublic]

Lethal injection is wimpy. Executions should be something to be feared -- if even one murder of an innocent can be prevented, it will be justified.