I know that there are strong opinions on both sides of the death penalty issue, but as someone who does not believe in the death penalty, I am so horrified by the fact that this is being done, and that the justices don’t even bother to defend their decision to allow this to proceed. It makes me feel helpless and sad. Is there anything that I can do as a member of the public?
I know that there are strong opinions on both sides of the death penalty issue, but as someone who does not believe in the death penalty, I am so horrified by the fact that this is being done, and that the justices don’t even bother to defend their decision to allow this to proceed. It makes me feel helpless and sad. Is there anything that I can do as a member of the public?
I'm hoping that getting informed and educating the public will at least make a dent. I started the Project because even good journalists specifically on the death penalty beat were understanding just how poorly thought out lethal injection protocols were.
I am in 100% agreement with everything that you wrote so well, and share your feelings of horror, helplessness and sorrow. This IS unconscionable. I can not help but wonder, what barbaric method will they come up with next?
The fact that Alabama is still going through with this tortuous, untested and I believe, way beyond what is currently defined as “cruel and unusual” punishment, indicates to me that our culture is declining even more rapidly than I thought.
Since we know the death penalty is not a deterrent and the sense of “closure” that some families hope for is short lived, if it happens at all, then the executioners must admit that it’s all about punishment.
The initial attempt to murder Mr Smith turned into a long and excruciating failure. His suffering was far beyond anyone’s imagination, turning an “execution” into a long session of cruel and unusual punishment. At this point, one would think that the barbaric requirement for “punishment” has been more than satisfied.
All but one juror at conclusion of Kenneth Smith’s trial voted for him to serve Life in Prison, not death. But the judge overruled them.
As you mentioned, the justices are not even defending their decision to proceed.
I guess that this goes along with our county’s rapid moral decline in addition to its propensity to take away our rights. Once again, we are in the process of loosing another right; the concept of following a jury’s recommendation.
So maybe it’s not just about punishment. Perhaps it’s another attempt to devalue and desensitize us and to make us feel powerless, afraid and defeated.
In addition, could it be with the increasing loss of all the values we’ve held dear, that many in our society have regressed into culture of blood lust?
I know that there are strong opinions on both sides of the death penalty issue, but as someone who does not believe in the death penalty, I am so horrified by the fact that this is being done, and that the justices don’t even bother to defend their decision to allow this to proceed. It makes me feel helpless and sad. Is there anything that I can do as a member of the public?
I'm hoping that getting informed and educating the public will at least make a dent. I started the Project because even good journalists specifically on the death penalty beat were understanding just how poorly thought out lethal injection protocols were.
I am in 100% agreement with everything that you wrote so well, and share your feelings of horror, helplessness and sorrow. This IS unconscionable. I can not help but wonder, what barbaric method will they come up with next?
The fact that Alabama is still going through with this tortuous, untested and I believe, way beyond what is currently defined as “cruel and unusual” punishment, indicates to me that our culture is declining even more rapidly than I thought.
Since we know the death penalty is not a deterrent and the sense of “closure” that some families hope for is short lived, if it happens at all, then the executioners must admit that it’s all about punishment.
The initial attempt to murder Mr Smith turned into a long and excruciating failure. His suffering was far beyond anyone’s imagination, turning an “execution” into a long session of cruel and unusual punishment. At this point, one would think that the barbaric requirement for “punishment” has been more than satisfied.
All but one juror at conclusion of Kenneth Smith’s trial voted for him to serve Life in Prison, not death. But the judge overruled them.
As you mentioned, the justices are not even defending their decision to proceed.
I guess that this goes along with our county’s rapid moral decline in addition to its propensity to take away our rights. Once again, we are in the process of loosing another right; the concept of following a jury’s recommendation.
So maybe it’s not just about punishment. Perhaps it’s another attempt to devalue and desensitize us and to make us feel powerless, afraid and defeated.
In addition, could it be with the increasing loss of all the values we’ve held dear, that many in our society have regressed into culture of blood lust?
Somehow, we must take action. I’m ready.