Dust off old Sparky and let's clean house!

[Tiger Wench]

Talk about a concern taht would never in a million years cause me to lose sleep at night - whether or not a convicted murdering son of a bitch experiences pain during his execution.  Whah.  Whah.

Any pain he may or may not feel as he is humanely euthanized like the dog he is, is nothing compared to the fiery pits of hell where he will be spending eternity.

Supreme court clears way for executions to resume

The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a challenge to the lethal three-drug cocktail used in most U.S. executions, clearing the way for a resumption of executions halted since last September.

By a 7-2 vote, the high court rejected a challenge by two Kentucky death row inmates who argued the current lethal injection method violated the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment by inflicting needless pain and suffering.

"We too agree that petitioners have not carried their burden of showing that the risk of pain from maladministration of a concededly humane lethal injection protocol, and the failure to adopt untried and untested alternatives, constitute cruel and unusual punishment," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the court's main opinion.

The Supreme Court's decision was announced as Pope Benedict, an opponent of the death penalty, visited President George W. Bush at the White House.

Executions in the United States last year fell to a 13-year low of 42, and have been temporarily halted since the court agreed in late September to decide the case.

The ruling did not address the constitutionality of the death penalty. It stemmed from a challenge to the three-step lethal injection procedure of first an anesthetic, then a paralyzing agent and finally a heart-stopping drug.

While the ruling allowed the current three-drug method, it left open future challenges by death row inmates that the process of administering the drugs and monitoring the inmate's condition might, in a given state, fail the new constitutional test set out in the ruling.

Death penalty opponents argued the condemned prisoner can suffer excruciating pain, without being able to cry out, if given too small a dose of the anesthetic.

States began using the three-drug lethal injection method in 1978 as an alternative to the historic methods of execution -- electrocution, the gas chamber, hanging and shooting.

But in recent years there have been botched lethal injection executions in Florida and California, in which inmates took up to 30 minutes to die.

GINSBURG, SOUTER DISSENTED

Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and David Souter dissented.

The ruling was released on the same day the justices heard arguments in another major death penalty case. The court considered the constitutionality of the death penalty for child rape, the first test in more than 30 years of whether a crime other than murder can be punished by execution.

The lethal injection challenge was brought by Kentucky death row inmates Ralph Baze and Thomas Bowling. A state judge and then the Kentucky Supreme Court upheld the use of lethal injection, prompting their appeal to the nation's top court.

The Supreme Court upheld the state court ruling.

Roberts said any offered alternative methods of executions must effectively address a substantial risk of serious harm to the death row inmate.

"The alternative procedure must be feasible, readily implemented and in fact significantly reduce a substantial risk of severe pain," he said.

Since 1976, there have been 929 executions in the United States by lethal injection, 154 by electrocution, 11 by the gas chamber, three by hanging and two by firing squad. according to the Death Penalty Information Center, which opposes capital punishment.

The court has never declared a method of execution unconstitutional, allowing the electric chair and firing squads in the late 1800s.

[kirkAU]

whatever happened to public hangings?

[Tarheel]

whatever happened to public hangings?

or the Guillotine?

[AUTailgatingRules]

I think they should die (be killed) in the same manner that the killed the victim with the same amount of pain and torture.  If a dude sexually abuses then kills a person he should have a big broomstick shoved up his ass for a couple hours then shot or stabbed or strangled just like his victim.

[kirkAU]

i'm sure some psychologist would disagree with me, but...
as i understand, it is possible to view an execution.  I know family can watch, victims' familys, etc. through a one way mirror window.

why not force violent youth offenders to attend these executions?  AL only executes about 2 per year, so it wouldn't be a monthly or weekly thing.  It would drive home the message to violent youth offenders, "if you continue on your current path of crime and violence, this is the end result."  might actually reach some kids in the beginning of the criminal career and force them into early retirement.  Hell, it might scare a kid enough to actually contribute to society.

just a thought.   ofcourse it would never happen.  it might hurt their self-esteem.

[Buzz Killington]

i'm sure some psychologist would disagree with me, but...
as i understand, it is possible to view an execution.  I know family can watch, victims' familys, etc. through a one way mirror window.

why not force violent youth offenders to attend these executions?  AL only executes about 2 per year, so it wouldn't be a monthly or weekly thing.  It would drive home the message to violent youth offenders, "if you continue on your current path of crime and violence, this is the end result."  might actually reach some kids in the beginning of the criminal career and force them into early retirement.  Hell, it might scare a kid enough to actually contribute to society.

just a thought.   ofcourse it would never happen.  it might hurt their self-esteem.

Of course this is all hypothetical, but this would only work for the electric chair executions.  The lethal injection executions would give too many of the little punks good ideas rather than deter them...

I personally think that violent offenders should be drawn and quartered, but that's just me.

[GarMan]

Of course this is all hypothetical, but this would only work for the electric chair executions.  The lethal injection executions would give too many of the little punks good ideas rather than deter them...

I personally think that violent offenders should be drawn and quartered, but that's just me.

Yeah...  The lethal injection method is too much of a "friendly" way to go.  Public hangings, firing squads, disemboweling...  They're all great pay-per-view events.  Plus, the money raised could pay off all fo the legal expenses and provide a little something to the victim's families.   

[Buzz Killington]

Yeah...  The lethal injection method is too much of a "friendly" way to go.  Public hangings, firing squads, disemboweling...  They're all great pay-per-view events.  Plus, the money raised could pay off all fo the legal expenses and provide a little something to the victim's families.   

I want to party with you man...

[Tarheel]

Yeah...  The lethal injection method is too much of a "friendly" way to go.  Public hangings, firing squads, disemboweling...  They're all great pay-per-view events.  Plus, the money raised could pay off all fo the legal expenses and provide a little something to the victim's families.   

You are a real bastard...I do like the way you think on this one!  Pay-per-View Executions!  That is phenomenal!

Reminds me of the night we were at Diamond Dave's and all of the TVs were tuned to the Saddam Hussein execution on FoxNews...someone asked Sami (the waitress) when the live music would start and she said "Oh, we'll have live music after the execution!  In the meantime, can I get you something to drink?"  That was fucking awesome!

[GarMan]

You are a real bastard...

My wife says that too sometimes.  I don't even have to try.  It's how I roll. 

I do like the way you think on this one!  Pay-per-View Executions!  That is phenomenal!

Reminds me of the night we were at Diamond Dave's and all of the TVs were tuned to the Saddam Hussein execution on FoxNews...someone asked Sami (the waitress) when the live music would start and she said "Oh, we'll have live music after the execution!  In the meantime, can I get you something to drink?"  That was fucking awesome!

Good times...  Gooood times!  It was one of those "Remember when..." moments.   

[kirkAU]

ok, instead of tearing down legion field in b'ham...

executions, 50 yard line.  ticket prices,  pay-per-view, tailgating.  what else is there? besides college football

the money can be invested back into the state legal system, education system, the possibilities are endless

[Tarheel]

ok, instead of tearing down legion field in b'ham...

executions, 50 yard line.  ticket prices,  pay-per-view, tailgating.  what else is there? besides college football

the money can be invested back into the state legal system, education system, the possibilities are endless

Sounds like a plan to me!  But I say we go one step farther...add wild Bear, Lions, Tigers...and no weapons for the criminals of course...just throw them to the real wolves and watch as they get torn to pieces!  Now THAT'S an entertaining execution  (I...think...this might have been done before...)

[Jumbo]

I say make the death row inmates interview Saban, that would pretty much kill them