Posted on 07/27/2014 3:27:06 PM PDT by Kaslin
The state of Arizona executed double murderer Joseph Wood this week. The convicted killer was injected with a combination of lethal drugs that eventually caused his death; however, it took too long according to some observers.
After being administered the drugs, Wood lingered for almost two hours before dying. Witnesses included reporter Troy Hayden who said the execution was “botched” and that Wood’s last words were similar to “a fish on shore gulping for air.”
While Hayden complained that the execution was “very disturbing to watch,” U.S. Senator John McCain noted that it was “terrible” and amounted to “torture.”
During the long ordeal, Wood’s attorneys unsuccessfully petitioned the U.S. District Court in Arizona for a “stay of execution” claiming that the drugs caused “cruel and unusual punishment.”
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer noted that Wood died in a “lawful manner” in contrast to the “gruesome, vicious suffering that he inflicted on his two victims.” Nevertheless, she ordered an investigation into the “process” used in this execution.
Not surprisingly, media critics and opponents of the death penalty did not waste any time in seizing on the incident. They claimed it was another reason why the United States should join other “civilized nations” and ban all executions.
On the contrary, civilized nations should executive murderers for one major reason. When regularly conducted and publicized, executions serve as a deterrent to other criminals and save the lives of innocent people.
Unfortunately, the process today is ludicrous as justice is delayed for decades in many cases. For example, Wood brutally killed his girlfriend and her father in 1989. The family members of these victims have been waiting 25 years for justice, an obscene delay.
In the United States criminal justice system today, there are too many appeals and too many delays in how executions are administered. After a conviction on death penalty charges and all appeals have been lost, a criminal should be swiftly executed, not given decades of taxpayer paid housing, food, clothing and legal representation.
The other serious flaw in the current system is the misplaced concern for the convict and the lack of consideration for the victim and the surviving family members.
In recent years, our society has become more worried about the criminals. Thus, more “humane” forms of execution have been used. Gone are the firing squad, the hanging at the public square and even the electric chair.
Today, almost all states use lethal injection as the preferred form of execution. Yet, as pharmaceutical companies have refused to supply the needed drugs, corrections officials have been forced to utilize creative drug combinations that lead to a longer survival period after injection.
The cry from liberal activists is to stop the “bungled executions,” but this infuriates the family members of victims.
Jeanne Brown, who had two family members killed by Wood, said “You don't know what excruciating is….what's excruciating is seeing your dad laying there in a pool of blood, seeing your sister laying there in a pool of blood. This man deserved it.”
He deserved death and was lucky that he was able to prepare for his death and have twenty five years as a prison inmate, with all of his expenses paid by the taxpayers, to continue his life. Jeanne Brown’s family members were not as fortunate as Wood killed them with no warning or consideration.
This public outrage is misplaced and inappropriate. If convicted killers die painful deaths due to lethal injection, it should not be a national tragedy.
What is a tragedy is that it takes too long for our country’s criminal justice system to dispense justice. When justice is delayed, it is denied, and that is the only tragedy worth discussing.
Or gallows?
Why all this dancing about with "high tech" drug-based executions?
Bullet to the head. Done...
It should have taken longer. Too many times the criminal justice system isn’t justice for the victims and their families.
Firing squad: cheap, quick, simple, nearly instant...
You make some good points and I do think execution should be limited to those who are the worst of the worst. I know historically some pretty decent people have been executed while monsters escaped justice.
On the other hand, there are some crimes in which the blood of the victims simply cries out for justice. The Carr Brothers in Wichita for instance. Also ones like Ted Bundy.
John McCain—the Manchurian Candidate who got hisself elected to the Senate in order to KILL ANY ATTEMPTS TO GET BACK THE REMAING TWO-THIRDS OF OUR POWS.
AND we nominated him for POTUS.
Good grief.
So what if he WAS gulping? He’s dead! Where’s the “botched” part?
If they think gulping was bad, they should see what awaited him when he arrived in Hell!
What would be wrong with general anesthesia then a .22 through the brain? And a 2nd in the heart for good measure?
No suffering, no botches, quick, simple and cheap.
Of course, libtards would insist that it’s inhumane........
You made that assertion a few months ago, and my response to you was "Name one".
Still waiting.
Ten story building - Off the roof.
Saves the cost of ammo or drugs.
Either do away with the death penalty and put put them in a windowless cell alone for life with no chance of parole and no extraordinary life saving efforts in their dotage or put them up against a wall and shoot them.
Everytime you shoot one, give the next one on the schedule some mortar and a trowel and have him patch the wall.
It took 25 years too long.
He murdered his victims in 1989.
Wouldn’t have lingered if they would have used Drano as suggested by one of the more compassionate relative of the victims.
“For an execution you can’t beat a bullet.”
On TV pay per view. Make up some of the money wasted on housing and defending killers.
Sounds good!
Although a lot of the euthanasia drugs are difficult to obtain, anesthesia doesn’t seem to be (thank goodness).
*******************************
Vets seem to have a sufficient of drugs to put peoples’ pets “to sleep” when they are old, very sick or badly injured.
I doubt a survey of vets would show ‘botched’ procedures.
If it works on cats and dogs, it’ll work on humans.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.