Many people never have or never will watch someone watch someone die by the death penalty. After reading an article explaining the D.C Sniper, John Allen Muhammed, and his experience with the lethal injection, I do not think that I could watch a life be taken. This does not mean I do not support the death penalty, but I do not know how people proceed with "handling" the situation or sit behind a pane of glass to watch it take place. A reporter who watched stated, "He didn't say anything. At 9:07 you could see him twitch a lot. You could see him blinking a lot. You could see his breathing increase." He stopped breathing after just seven breaths. Lethal injection is just one way to die though. People have been executed throughout by hanging, electrocution, and even stoning or burning at the stake. I am not sure if any of these ways are acceptable, but maybe theres another one out there. A experience truly put to words the emotion of the actual execution. Muhammed was speechless and did not have any last words to say before his death, but what can you say to a bunch of people you do not know? Lethal injection might kill someone fast as it did to Muhammed but is there a better way than today's use of lethal injection to formally execute someone under the law?
http://articles.cnn.com/2009-11-10/justice/virginia.sniper.execution_1_sniper-john-allen-muhammad-washington-area-sniper-larry-traylor?_s=PM:CRIME
I know that most murderers get a sentence of life in prison. And it is also common for a convict with a life in prison sentence to try and commit suicide. I feel that lethal injection is just doing most of them a favor by putting them out of their misery so that they do not have to suffer a life being stuck in prison. Also, lethal injection is a quick and easy kill, so there is no way it can measure up and be a good enough punishment to someone who violently killed people by making them suffer. I think it is hard to determine who "deserves" the death penalty and who should suffer in prison for their life.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I know for a fact I would not to be able to emotionally and mentally handle the burden of watching someone die in front of me, however, I do in fact support the death penalty. I don't necessarily think that the fact that I can't handle someone dying in from of me has anything to do with my beliefs though. I for one think that those of which who can watch criminals receive the death penalty and essentially watch them die are not ethically bad or bad people; they just like seeing justice be served.
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