Greg Ball, a state senator in New York, suggested Friday that authorities should “torture” the captured Boston bombing suspect, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who is a naturalized American citizen and remains in serious condition at an area hospital.
So, scum bag #2 in custody. Who wouldn’t use torture on this punk to save more lives?
— Greg Ball (@ball4ny) April 20, 2013
In response to criticism, he told the Journal News that “If people find that offensive, they’re going to have to check their own conscience.”
Ball again addressed the comment in a statement Saturday, however this time he emphasized seeking the death penalty:
“As New Yorkers we must remember, that on most days, New York State is terror target number one, and we need our Governor to make the death penalty for cop killers and terrorists a top priority,” he said, according to the Journal News. “The death penalty is a fitting deterrent that will act as protection for those men and women who leave their loving families daily and put their lives at risk everyday to protect the rest us.”