WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says a botched execution of a death row inmate in Oklahoma fell short of the humane standards required when the death penalty is carried out.
Officials halted Clayton Lockett’s execution Tuesday when he convulsed violently and tried to lift his head after a doctor declared him unconscious. He later died of an apparent heart attack.
White House spokesman Jay Carney says President Barack Obama believes evidence shows the death penalty doesn’t effectively deter crime. But he says Obama believes some crimes are so heinous that the death penalty is merited. He says the crimes in Lockett’s case are indisputably heinous.
But Carney says the U.S. has a fundamental standard that the death penalty must be carried out humanely. He says everyone would recognize that this case fell short.
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The OK, supreme court put a stay of execution for both men, because of the unknown danger of these drugs. But, the governor ignored it and proceeded anyway. How is THAT legal?
Now, look! She’s all…what happened? She should be impeached! And sued!
You’re right, no question about it. If the guy has relatives, it seems like they would be quick to sue. I don’t think the voters or legislature of OK will impeach, however. As for the President’s remarks, I don’t think the issue is, any longer, merely an issue related to humane practices. This incident is about torture, and the Governor needs to be held accountable.
We are talking about Oklahoma here, so you cannot use big words like STANDARDS.
This is outrageous on so many levels.
What does execution accomplish in the first place?
I’ve worked with many criminals, and not one of them considered the possible consequences of their crime prior to committing it. I know of absolutely no credible study that the death penalty has any deterrent effect. What other justification would suffice that doesn’t lower society and death penalty proponents to the level of those they would execute?
Do any of us deserve to ever be judged solely on the basis of our worst mistake or mistakes?
Some studies and numerous past cases have clearly established that many death row inmates don’t deserve the death penalty even if it were otherwise justifiable, simply by virtue of flaws in the justice system which have convicted people who were not guilty of the charges for which they were assessed the death penalty.
What if a system were instituted where everyone who takes part in charging, prosecuting, judging, approving of, and executing, death row inmates, were required to witness the execution? How many executions would then be performed if everyone responsible for the execution were required to witness the fruit of their labors? And why shouldn’t that be a requirement?
Why the secrecy about the nature and the source of the methods of execution. Aren’t those most concerned entitled to ensure that the devices and drugs used to execute them are effective, humane, and prepared by qualified people prepared to stand behind their products? The two dogs which I had euthanized in my presence went very quietly, and without pain. If we can (and ethically are required when necessary) to do that with our pets, why can’t we do that with inmates? If Dr. Kevorkian and others can devise humane ways to ease the passing of the terminally ill, why can’t we do that for people who are killed against their will?
Two men were scheduled to be executed. What kind of justice system have we devised that leaves it to the luck of the draw that one dies because of a botched process and the other survives because of a botched process?
Neither of these people seem very warm and fuzzy to many who look at them, but does that mean they are any less human, or deserving of the basic respect owed all human beings?
Would any of us look at these issues differently if we were in their shoes, and is it any more than the luck of the draw if we aren’t?
If we were in their shoes…
Like a victim of happenstance…
Just in the wrong place at the wrong time…
If we were in their position wouldn’t we…
Given the opportunity wouldn’t you have…
One guy raped and killed his roommates 11 month old daughter.
The other shot and buried alive a woman who walked into a burglary attempt.
These two guys…
I can honestly state I would not have done what they did.