[CounterCounterCulture]

And another one down
and another one down
another one bites the dust

[Feckless]

His lethal injection renewed the legal quandary of whether it is proper to execute someone who is mentally ill

Quandry? Is that wimpese for "ain't got the huevos to do what's right"? We ain't got no quandries in Tejas.

[Dawgreg]

Yipee!

[76834]

Texas Puts Mentally Ill Killer to Death

Not really, he put himself to death when he decided to go on a killing rampage.
Good Riddence.

[familyofman]

Gotta keep the count up in (if it moves - kill it) Texas. One track minds all lead to dead ends. With all the executions in Texas they MUST have the lowest crime rate in the world by now.

[captain_dave]

I don't like the use of lethal injection as the form of execution. I think we should not use the implements and techniques of healing to cause death. An execution should be done with rope or rifle, in broad daylight, in public, accompanied by ceremony. The names of the murderer's victims and court's sentence read aloud</p>

[FreedomCalls]

[sandbar]

And the point of keeping him alive would be?

What use is this person for society? Can't trust him to be released in the world again, and no point in keeping him alive in prison forever. Guess I am cold and heartless too.

[randog]

Wow, they killed a guy that might have formulated the Super-String Theory.

Then again, maybe he wouldn't have.... Next!!

[weegee]

Incrementalism of the courts. Mental "illness" is not mental retardation. If someone is psychopathic, they are mentally ill. Most serial killers would be inelligible for the death penalty if that were the case. The worst of the worst would get a free pass.

That's not going to fly around these parts.

[Tall_Texan]

No agenda with this write-up, is there?

I may be the only one, but I don't equate mental illness with mentally retarded. There's a difference between being incapable of distinguishing right from wrong and having some emotional problems.

[I got the rope]

In 1998, four days before former self-confessed serial killer Henry Lee Lucas was to die, then-Gov. George W. Bush commuted Lucas' sentence after questions were raised about his conviction. It was the only death sentence commuted by Bush in his six years in office when 152 executions were carried out.

I especially like this line. Somehow it is always Bush's fault to the media...LOL.

[greasepaint]

The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has
six members? Since when?
The Texas Gov. can commute death sentences?
Since when?

[F.J. Mitchell]

Unless the victems of mentally ill or retarded murderers are somehow less dead than victems of sane and mentally healthy murderers, I see no reason why they should be given a pass.

[jackbill]

In 1998, four days before former self-confessed serial killer Henry Lee Lucas was to die, then-Gov. George W. Bush commuted Lucas' sentence after questions were raised about his conviction. It was the only death sentence commuted by Bush in his six years in office when 152 executions were carried out.

This paragraph tells you all that you need to know about the AP's agenda. The Governor of Texas can "commute" a death sentence for 30 days, one time. Permanent disposition is then up to the Board of Pardons and Paroles. I believe that once they make a decision, the Governor can agree or disagree.

[Hermann the Cherusker]

Good riddance.

[zygoat]

This is the first proven cure for mental case/murder I've read about. They ought to keep testing.

[Xenalyte]

At least three mentally ill prisoners have been executed in Texas since the Supreme Court ruled two years ago that severely mentally retarded inmates should not be executed.

I've gained 20 pounds since I went blonde. Do y'all think there's a connection?

[sarasmom]

Gee, and the Judicial branch of the State of Florida is still trying their damndest to execute Terri Schiavo, even though the legislative branch of the state passed a law fobidding it, and the Governor signed the law.
Poor Terri, if only she had committed some heineous crime, she might be spared execution!
Her crime against humanity? Well, she is a disabled, useless eater!
I often wonder why some people will fight tooth and nail to save a deranged convicted murderor, and yet think an innocent woman must be executed by the state ASAP, for being disabled.

[montag813]

A diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic, Patterson was condemned for a double slaying almost 12 years ago

And...? Did he kill them or not? That is the only relevant question. If so, than society did what it had to do.