DEATH PENALTY'S DEADLY VACATION

New York Post ^ | November 2, 2007 | JOHN R. LOTT JR.

[fweingart]

November 2, 2007 -- THE Supreme Court on Tuesday effectively halted U.S. executions via lethal injection until it can rule on a challenge to the constitutionality of a particular execution "cocktail." This is just the latest example of the whittling away of the death penalty - the courts have already cut executions by over a third since 1999.

[fweingart]

A common claim is that executions - now down to about 60 per year - are too rare to deter criminals.

All the more reason to expand the death penalty. Our drug problem could be resolved if we followed Singapore's example of handing the death penalty to those that either use or sell drugs. (Fewer 'Cops' episodes.)

[Graybeard58]

Our drug problem could be resolved if we followed Singapore's example of handing the death penalty to those that either use or sell drugs.

I may be the only one who thinks this way but it seems a bit extreme to advocate death for drug users.

[Kenton]

The solution to this is so simple it’s amazing they haven’t just settled this already. If there’s any chance at all that the injection formula isn’t powerful enough to get the job done quickly, double the dosage. That’s lots cheaper than taking this to the courts.

[NCLaw441]

A common claim is that executions - now down to about 60 per year - are too rare to deter criminals. (I know this was not YOUR argument)
***
That’s an interesting argument that militates against ending the death penalty. It isn’t a constitutional argument, however; it is an argument for state legislatures to decide. And, of course, the death penalty deters all who are subjected to it.

[stevie_d_64]

You know...Funny thing...

Ammo is still relatively cheap these days...Even with the run on raw materials and a war(s) going on...

Its quick, relatively painless, it does leave a mess, but that could be a boon for a decline in unemployment...

I guess, depending on how you look at it...It could be either a win/win or lose/lose situation...

I also noticed there seemed to not be a good sense of where the overall court went on this...

I’m sure it’ll be a 5-4 split...But that swing vote is what concerns me...

[KarlInOhio]

I find this hard to believe. During one medical procedure I was given some drug that "might make me feel drowsy and disoriented". I was knocked out by it and have no memory of the procedure after they pumped in the drug. And there's even stronger stuff out there where you won't notice the surgeon slicing you wide open. They just need to boost the anesthetic before the drugs which stop the heart.

[CarrotAndStick]

I’m not sure if Singapore has the death penalty for drug users, but drug pedaling and possession at an entry point to the country is going to get the person caught, death.

[varon]

They just need to boost the anesthetic before the drugs which stop the heart.

Now, you've done it. You muddled the issue by introducing common sense ;-)

[gridlock]

I may be the only one who thinks this way but it seems a bit extreme to advocate death for drug users.

With Meth, it's more of a Do-It-Yourself, kind of thing, anyway. Rugged American self-reliance, and all that...

[Brytani]

Just a sampling of 3 “wonderful” people who have active death warrants in Florida, however, the USSC will make sure these scum have more years to breath good air.

Mark Schwab was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of eleven-year-old Junny Rios-Martinez. On 04/18/91, Junny Rios-Martinez was kidnapped, raped, and murdered. His body was discovered on 04/21/91.

Schwab was released from prison in March of 1991 after serving three years for sexual assault. During the same month, a picture of Junny Rios-Martinez, the victim, was published in the newspaper. Schwab saw the picture and called the family on the phone claiming that he was writing an article on the boy. Through this action and the promise of assisting the boy in a acquiring a contract to represent a surfing company, Schwab became friendly with the boy’s family.

http://www.floridacapitalcases.state.fl.us/case_updates/111129.doc

WAYNE TOMPKINS The victim’s friend, who went to the victim’s residence that day, stated she observed the defendant on top of the victim. She claimed the victim was struggling and screaming for help, and the subject was fondling her and pulling at her bathrobe. The friend, however, did not report the incident to the police until the investigation was underway.

The defendant admitted to his cellmate, in 1985, that he forcefully attempted to have sexual intercourse with the victim, who resisted his advances and fought him. The defendant claimed that due to the victim’s resistance, he strangled her and then buried her under their residence. Medical testimony indicated that the cause of death was asphyxiation by strangulation.

On June 5, 1984, the decomposed body was found buried underneath the residence.

http://www.dc.state.fl.us/ActiveInmates/Detail.asp?Bookmark=1&From=list&SessionID=213687789

The defendant, Robert Trease, and his accomplice Hope Siegel conspired to rob the victim Paul Edeson. The robbery resulted in Trease killing the victim with a knife.

Trease and Siegel planned for her to arrange a date with the victim so that she could learn where the victim kept a hidden safe. They planned to return later to recover any money the victim may have had. Siegel arrived at the victim’s home and after spending time with the victim, determined that he did not have a safe. She left the victim’s residence and met with Trease, to inform him that the victim did not own a safe. Trease followed Ms. Siegal back to the victim’s house where he surprised and attacked the victim in an effort to obtain the safe’s location. The victim continued to insist that he did not have a safe in his house. Trease told Siegel to get a gun, which he put to the victim’s head as he continued the questioning. The victim remained uncooperative so Trease fired a non-lethal bullet into his head and then asked Siegel to retrieve a knife. He then cut the victim’s throat resulting in his death. Subsequent to his arrest, Trease denied any knowledge or involvement in the crime. Siegel, however, gave a detailed statement implicating them both.

http://www.floridacapitalcases.state.fl.us/case_updates/124346.doc

My heart just bleeds

[Mr. Lucky]

I feel the same way about people who talk on their cell phone while driving.

[Brytani]

Lethal Injection protocols call for the administration of Sodium Thiopental 2-5 grams depending on the persons weight. Sodium thiopental is used to medically induce coma’s and renders the receiving person unconscious in 30-45 seconds, in as little as 10 if given a higher dose.

The only “pain” associated with lethal injection is the insertion of an IV, something most of us will have in our lifetime.

The argument that somehow this procedure is cruel and unusual because it is painful has been shotdown by decades of medical literature on the very drug used to make sure the executed feels no paid. Unlike their victims of course.

[nmh]

bump!

[TNCMAXQ]

It sickens me that we have to hear this bogus cruel and unusual argument. The REAL cruel and unusual punishment is what the families of the dead victims have to go through being jerked around for decades as these scumbags are given one reprieve after another.

You can only blame the media and the courts to a point though. It is the American people who continue to elect politicians who appoint criminal coddling judges. I wonder how many people who can’t wait to vote for Hillary are the same ones who say they are afraid of crime and complaining about the tolerance of it.

[PapaBear3625]

They just need to boost the anesthetic before the drugs which stop the heart.

Or just give increasing amount of anesthetic until its the anesthetic which stops the heart. How much would that be? Well sometime before you have completely replaced the convict's blood supply with anesthetic solution, the heart will stop

[wideawake]

I may be the only one who thinks this way but it seems a bit extreme to advocate death for drug users.

Those who have been beaten, injured and robbed by drug addicts might differ with you.

[wideawake]

Perhaps the ACLU would prefer that we simply starve death row inmates to death instead. After all, death by dehydration/starvation is blissful and euphoric, not cruel.

[RoadTest]

I thought the Supremes were more conservative now?! “Lethal” is right!

[DustyMoment]

It is stunning to me that the people on death row, many of whom have committed violent and brutal murders to get to death row, are afraid of being hurt when they are “put to sleep”.

How pathetic and despicable!!!

I agree that they shouldn’t be allowed to lie down on a gurney and be peacefully put to sleep.

They should have done to them what they did to their victims so they know exactly what their victims experienced!!

These people are nothing but bullies and crybabies and the SCOTUS should not only refuse to hear the case, they should drop the whole “cruel and unusual punishment” nonsense and let these cowards really have something to fear from their execution day.

Then, and (probably) only then, will we see the murder rate in the country dramtaically decline. The cowards may actually be forced to think twice about committing murder. When the punishments for crimes have no real teeth in them, the incidence of crimes only increases.

We need to put the teeth back in the punishment phase and stop pandering to MURDERERS!!!!!!

[newzjunkey]

It's not appropriate for your teen pot loser but what do you do with violent abusers who spurn treatment? What do you do with a woman who abuses crack or other hard drugs during multiple pregnancies? Sure you can take the children when they're born addicted but what about the next one? And the next?

I know of one local case where, in the past 10 years, she's had at least three (perhaps four now) children born addicted and she still goes forth undeterred, living free like you and I do. All of these children have learning and/or psychological problems directly related to in utero exposer. We should not tolerate this recidivism any more than we should tolerate that of child molesters.

Persistent activities like these along with willfully deceptive exposure of another to HIV should not be treated with kid gloves. Such "compassion" is delusional and destructive.