Comments on: Execution By Overdose http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/02/execution_by_ov.html The Law, the Universe, and Everything Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:44:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Simon http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/02/execution_by_ov.html/comment-page-1#comment-60347 Simon Thu, 23 Feb 2006 00:33:52 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/02/execution-by-overdose.html#comment-60347 <blockquote>Society has grand hopes for the death penalty. We hope it will dramatically decrease murder rates. We think that it will provide a just response to a horrible crime. We feel it will make the victims, and indeed society at large, whole again. Compared to these grand designs, death by overdose seems very sad and small.</blockquote>This block of text seems to have the ring of a Kennedy opinion, for some reason... In any instance, regardless of the <i>mechanism</i> of death - sad, small, joyfull or grandiose - it retains the same result: system, one, bad guy nil.

Society has grand hopes for the death penalty. We hope it will dramatically decrease murder rates. We think that it will provide a just response to a horrible crime. We feel it will make the victims, and indeed society at large, whole again. Compared to these grand designs, death by overdose seems very sad and small.

This block of text seems to have the ring of a Kennedy opinion, for some reason…

In any instance, regardless of the mechanism of death – sad, small, joyfull or grandiose – it retains the same result: system, one, bad guy nil.

]]> By: Brian Duffy http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/02/execution_by_ov.html/comment-page-1#comment-60346 Brian Duffy Wed, 22 Feb 2006 22:31:08 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/02/execution-by-overdose.html#comment-60346 We are a society that has always been rich in paradox. Founders like Thomas Jefferson waxed about self-determination and freedom, yet owned slaves. Some of the strongest death penalty advocates fervently worship a man who advocated peace, forgiveness and rebirth during his short life. We worry about the suffering of heinous criminals at execution, yet support the manufacture weapons that can kill & maim millions. We are a society that has always been rich in paradox. Founders like Thomas Jefferson waxed about self-determination and freedom, yet owned slaves.

Some of the strongest death penalty advocates fervently worship a man who advocated peace, forgiveness and rebirth during his short life.

We worry about the suffering of heinous criminals at execution, yet support the manufacture weapons that can kill & maim millions.

]]> By: nightquill http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/02/execution_by_ov.html/comment-page-1#comment-60345 nightquill Wed, 22 Feb 2006 10:27:10 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/02/execution-by-overdose.html#comment-60345 I like your analysis. But I view (with hope) our squeamishness as a transition phase to a stage of civilization where we can't abide the thought of state killing, as we now can't abide the sight. After all, we know how to do it painlessly if we could stand it: <p> ...................................<p> The most completely painless way<p> To execute a man<p> Was practiced long before the day<p> It got its name and its cachet<p> From Dr. Guillotin.<p> <p> Our needle brings a worse demise,<p> So anyone who delves<p> Into its use will realize<p> The ones we would anaesthetize<p> Must be ourselves.<p> <p> .....................<p> <p> http://nightquill.blogspot.com/ <p></p></p></p></p></p></p></p></p></p></p></p></p></p></p></p></p></p> I like your analysis. But I view (with hope) our squeamishness as a transition phase to a stage of civilization where we can’t abide the thought of state killing, as we now can’t abide the sight. After all, we know how to do it painlessly if we could stand it:

……………………………..

The most completely painless way

To execute a man

Was practiced long before the day

It got its name and its cachet

From Dr. Guillotin.

Our needle brings a worse demise,

So anyone who delves

Into its use will realize

The ones we would anaesthetize

Must be ourselves.

…………………

http://nightquill.blogspot.com/

]]> By: Chase http://www.concurringopinions.com/archives/2006/02/execution_by_ov.html/comment-page-1#comment-60344 Chase Wed, 22 Feb 2006 04:33:15 +0000 http://www.solove.org/archives/2006/02/execution-by-overdose.html#comment-60344 Maybe I'm old fashioned (which I hardly think is the case) but I don't have any problem whatsoever when someone being executed "suffers." I shudder to think there is more public concern about the "suffering" of Morales than there was after he brutally murdered Terri Winchell in 1981. Read more about the crime that put Morales where he is now at http://prodeathpenalty.com/Pending/06/feb06.htm. Remember, his own actions put him where he is now. He showed no regard for the suffering of his victim, why should society go out of its way to show regard for him? Put him down and let's move on. Maybe I’m old fashioned (which I hardly think is the case) but I don’t have any problem whatsoever when someone being executed “suffers.”

I shudder to think there is more public concern about the “suffering” of Morales than there was after he brutally murdered Terri Winchell in 1981.

Read more about the crime that put Morales where he is now at http://prodeathpenalty.com/Pending/06/feb06.htm. Remember, his own actions put him where he is now. He showed no regard for the suffering of his victim, why should society go out of its way to show regard for him? Put him down and let’s move on.

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