Marsha
Mar 27th, 2015

On executions

“If we as a society want to carry out executions, we should be willing to face the fact that the state is committing a horrendous brutality on our behalf.”

“If we as a society cannot stomach the splatter from an execution carried out by a firing squad, then we shouldn’t be carrying out executions at all.”

—U.S. 9th Circuit Court Chief Judge Alex Kozinski (a Reagan appointee)

I’d prefer to see no executions at all, of course.

But I do wonder how much public support for capital punishment would erode if the executions were not longer as “clean” and “sanitized” as they are now. Or if members of the general public were forced to witness the executions. Or if members of the general public were forced to pull the triggers.

 

4 Responses to “On executions”

  1. # Shannahon 28 Mar 2015 at 1:41 am

    Did you see the artist who is painting pictures of each executed person’s last meal? It’s a collection of plates. I thought this was a wonderful way to bring attention to — to humanize — hose that are executed.
    Shannah recently posted..On AutismMy Profile

  2. # Marshaon 28 Mar 2015 at 9:49 am

    @Shannah: No, I hadn’t seen that. It sounds like an amazing project. Do you have a link to it somewhere?
    Marsha recently posted..On executionsMy Profile

  3. # Shannahon 03 Apr 2015 at 4:40 am

    Yes! Here: http://m.chron.com/news/houston-texas/texas/article/Artist-paints-death-row-inmates-last-meals-on-beau-6106212.php
    Shannah recently posted..Nap timeMy Profile

  4. # Marshaon 05 Apr 2015 at 10:15 am

    Thanks so much for digging up that link. What an amazing project.
    Marsha recently posted..The truthMy Profile