Posted on 04/19/2017 8:47:32 AM PDT by Kaslin
It is a plea for mercy -- not out of the Arkansas statutes but from an older and more venerable legal code: Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do. But it's a plea that cannot be made today on behalf of the people of this sovereign state. For we still have the death penalty, still tell pollsters we like it and insist that our politicians bow to it before sending them to Little Rock. We know exactly what we do. And the whole world is watching.
Vengeance is mine, sayeth the almighty State of Arkansas -- because it still plans to kill a half-dozen men as soon as it can. But all these judges (federal, state and who-knows-what-else) keep bringing up small details such as the law and the Constitution. And after several rulings over the weekend, the reporters from out of town are packing up again, going home without a good (that is, bad) story about deepest, darkest Arkansas. April is indeed the cruelest month, and this year it mixed vengeance and voyeurism.
Eight executions in 11 days? Or did our betters narrow it down to seven, then six, depending on the mental state and particulars of the condemned? Even if you think six at a time isn't cruel, it would certainly have been unusual. At least on this side of Texarkana. But acting like another head of state, Macbeth by name, our governor decided that if 'twere done, let it be done quickly. And en masse. Let it be said that at least His Majesty Macbeth couldn't sleep o'night because of his decisions. Macbeth does murder sleep! he cried out.
Now a circuit judge in Pulaski County, the Hon. Wendell Griffen, and a judge at the federal level, the Hon. Kristine Baker, have stopped it -- for now. Judge Griffen sided with a drug company that said it didn't want its drugs used to kill people. Judge Baker cited the Eighth Amendment and its prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment: "The state of Arkansas does not intend to torture plaintiffs to death," she wrote. "However, the Eighth Amendment's prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment is not limited to inherently barbaric punishments. A condemned prisoner can successfully challenge the method of his or her execution by showing that the state's method 'creates a demonstrated risk of severe pain' and 'the risk is substantial when compared to the known and available alternatives.' " And therefore, she says, the condemned have a case to make, and should be allowed to make it again.
Kristine Baker might have been speaking for many folks, even in these latitudes, who have changed their minds in the last few years when it comes to the death penalty. Maybe sloppy executions in neighboring states have satiated our blood lust. After all, we have our own souls to think about.
It must be said that Judge Baker's ruling was very much needed to spare these men, at least for now. Because, again, Judge Griffen doesn't seem to understand that a judge is always a judge, even when he or she takes off the robes. According to dispatches, our (very much) activist Pulaski County circuit judge was among the protesters outside the governor's mansion on Friday. Which has folks already demanding he recuse himself from these proceedings. Judge Baker is, well, more judicial.
Good thing, too. For the whole world was watching.
The grotesque is a sure attention-getter, if not the kind of attention this state long has sought from tourists and investors the world over. British, French, Swedish and other journalists or just ghouls in general have been exploring Arkansas so they can show their readers what can happen in a supposedly civilized state.
There's enough irony in this story for connoisseurs of it to last them a lifetime. Our visitors -- welcome, y'all, and come back soon! -- will now have to go back to their editors and explain that their story was killed, not the condemned. A couple of judges chose life. Which is just as well for the image of this state.
Naturally, there will be objections to canceling, or even postponing, these executions. Doubtless we'll hear from the pols with one eye on the next election: Line 'em up and mow 'em down! What, not drawing and quartering, too? Once upon a time, somebody could have said, "We've always done it this way," when speaking of crucifixion.
What's next? This still being the United States of America, we expect ... lawsuits galore. And more filings. And rulings. And appeals. And more protests and marches and speeches and politicians seeking re-election and local judges seeking publicity. What a country!
But for now, Death must wait. How long? Perhaps only He knows.
How long must Arkansas condemn people to death, and still plaster everything in sight with Choose Life bumper stickers? That's a question we can answer ourselves.
The liberals have basically eliminated the death penalty from our system. This guy doesn’t give a whit about the victims of crimes, but he pines away for murderers. What a sicko.
Save your sympathy for the victims. Execute these animals and be done with it.
One of these guys killed and while in prison killed two more, broke out and killed someone else.
Build a large scaffolding and hang them all simultaneously.
The only lives sacred to liberals are those of criminals. For liberals, the perps are always the victims.
How long must we put up with these hypocrites who pretend to hate killing except when they're killing the innocent?
"Ceterum censeo Islam esse delendam."
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
What horse blank.
Arkansas is condemning people to death while people have choose life bumper stickers???, This is what this writer thinks this is all about???
And conveniently omitting that these condemned prisoners have gotten there through due process.
How the heck does this writer conflate capital punishment with abortion, and make it seem as though conservatives who support the death penalty and also oppose abortion, are somehow inconsistent in their views???
Townhall published this?
Good grief what a diatribe this was.
Maybe we should bring back hanging.
If that ex-Patriots asshole can do it to himself, it must not be too painful..................
States really need to create the *option* of a firing squad execution. It should be part of sentencing, that if the preferred method of execution has been precluded, *for any reason*, then the sentence will be carried out with the firing squad.
It is much harder to legally challenge, and just needs a cheap wooden stock, generic rifles and bullets, and any LEOs can pull the triggers. It cannot be undermined by outsiders by denying essential components.
It kills arguments of cruel and unusual punishment, so appeals must be based on arguments outside of that.
Mr. Greenburg should give the people an expose on the victims concentrating on how they died.
Then he may just realize that “Some people Just Need Killing” and the quicker the better.
I agree entirely, but don’t forget all the cases that were compromised by the fraudulent lab work.
We want swift, severe punishment for murderers, but only if we have the guilty.
As I recall, God specifically gave “the power of the sword” (thus giving Divine permission for just war and execution) to the state. Jesus also stated that “I... brought a sword”. Seems to me that the author does not really know what he is talking about.
Ouch. What a way to trash your own credibility.
Exactly.
Leftists can be counted upon to always defend the guilty and demand the innocent (babies in the womb, or anybody who disagrees with them) to be executed.
Firing squad. Dignified, IMO, and CERTAIN.
Jewish law is centered around pro-life in all regards including revenge and excluding self-defense.
The only secular Israeli court imposed death sentence was Adolf Eichmann.
The more permission we give the government to kill, the government will kill more.
Remember this when Oregon-style euthanasia laws sweep across the nation in the coming years.
I don’t believe the execution of criminals makes it easier to euthanize.
It may wind up with the government expanding the reasons to execute, but I can see some of those as reasoned also.
Murder
Terrorism
Chronic child molestation/rape*
Chronic rape*
*The last two are of such a vicious personal nature, that society cannot allow the perps to remain free again.
Some people commit crimes so unacceptable, that they should be put to death.
We have no obligation as a society to nurse these people through life in prison.
Society is better off without them based on cost of incarceration, and prevention of more crime.
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.