GROUP RAILS AGAINST SOUTH CAROLINA LETHAL INJECTION LEGISLATION …
|| By FITSNEWS || A state organization that brands itself as a capital punishment watchdog is blasting a Palmetto State bill that would provide “execution secrecy.” According to the group, the proposed legislation would “cloak the (state’s) lethal injection execution process in secrecy, eliminating government transparency and accountability in the exercise of the awesome governmental power of taking the life of one of its citizens.”
The bill – S. 553 – is being pushed by State Senators Larry Martin, Mike Fair, Shane Massey and Paul Campbell.
According to the Death Penalty Resource and Defense Center, the legislation would “prevent the public and even the governor and legislature from learning what happens in carrying out executions by lethal injection, even when they go wrong.”
Specifically, it would forbid disclosure of all sorts of information – including “the names of those involved in carrying out the sentence, to the suppliers and manufacturers of the drugs, the type of drugs used, and even the cost to the Department of Corrections.”
The ostensible goal of such legislation? To shield individuals and corporations involved in the carrying out of capital punishment sentences from liability in the event the executions are botched.
South Carolina has not executed an inmate since 2011 – and no executions are scheduled for 2015, 2016 or 2017.
Therefore, we find this legislation pretty ridiculous … and are pleased to see it has not received a hearing since it was introduced and referred to a Senate penology committee earlier this month.
We agree with the capital punishment watchdogs, then, that there is no need to rush this process …
As for the broader issue of capital punishment, we addressed it earlier this month in this piece.
Our view? That it needs to be brought back … with a vengeance.
Seriously … as lawmakers waste countless hours bickering over how South Carolina could lower its disproportionately high percentage of women killed by men, justice is denied in cases like this.
Strap ’em up, shoot ’em up (bullets or lethal pharmaceuticals) … that’s our view.
In fact the sooner we can get back to firing squads for premeditated murders followed by perpetrator confessions or indisputable DNA evidence, the better …
62 comments
Bill was introduced on 3/12/15. There was a subcommittee meeting held on 3/17/15 with an attempt at full committee on 3/19/15 which has been rescheduled for 3/26/15 at 8:30 in the morning.
Y’all don’t understand the reason this bill is being introduced. Prescription drug manufacturers do not want the liability for their products being used for off label uses. You will never find the indication “execution of prisoners” on any company literature. Physicians or other practitioners cannot legally administer a medication other than for a approved indication. When products are used to kill, the physician as well as the manufacturer are both open to being sued by the survivors of the executed individual. The solution was thought to be having the execution medications prepared by a compounding pharmacy, but no pharmacy wanted to be connected with executions for the reasons already described. As a result, the state needs these laws to protect the providers from liability.
There’s no problem with a rope….
Yeah, we’z been makin’ ’em for years. Bring back the popularity. Maybe the Mob will start using it.
I agree. Maybe we need to ask Arkansas how much they paid their last hangman (it’s my info that they were the last state to have a hangman on their payroll), and maybe we should double his/her salary for a new “official” SC Hangman, since we have been falling behind. Or, Charlie Condon’s Electric Sofa might solve some problems. Or, have some target practice with the Nasty Guard (or state retirees) and reinstate the firing squad, as has Utah. I think a nice, decent, public hanging on the Southwest Corner of the State House every Friday (until we reduced the backlog to zero) would make a very good impression on those now, or in the future, eligible for capital punishment. The death penalty does not have to be cruel or unusual. It has to be BOTH, and hanging or electrocution, or firing squad are NOT unusual.
Kill the sumbitches, and they can’t kill anyone else.
Why not let them kill themselves? Why have death row watch at all? It boils down to vengeance. I would be satisfied just knowing they couldn’t hurt anyone else. I think, if it were my family and I was not able to protect them, I would find satisfaction in knowing they killed themselves. That would imply they couldn’t live with themselves or their environment.
Either way, what is the point of a death row watch?
“Why not let them kill themselves” I also propose a sort of Devils Island, escape proof, where they can live by themselves to do amongst whatever they can to survive. They can make their own rules. It can be done.
Here’s the perfect place. Complete with a forest, grass land and goats. We can even send tools and equipment with them. Here you go, build a society we’ll send someone back to check on y’all in about 30 years or so.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navassa_Island
That’s what I was referring to but I was very tired – I just wanted to throw out the idea, but I’m pleased that others are thinking about it.
Why are people who are on death sentence on “watch” ???? They can hang themselves, but noooooooo…..we have to pay to watch them, so they can’t kill themselves. Makes no sense. None.
Excellent question. Follow up on this to see if there are any published articles about it.
I will.
That’s not accurate. It’s the prescription drug manufacturers who don’t want their medicines used to kill people. These companies WILL NOT provide these drugs knowingly to the departments of correction (which is why these departments were violating FDA regulations by importing them from other countries until they had to stop doing that). This bill has been introduced so the State can get Joe Schmoe on the street corner to “mix up some drugs” and no one will any the wiser. Seriously, under this bill, ANYONE can make ANYTHING to be used in an execution, and no one will ever know.
Because if the provider screws up, we certainly don’t want them subject to product liability lawsuits. Ford Pinto, cigarettes, leathal injections – it’s all the same – right?
… and the judge, jury and executioner, for those very reasons, g’ment screw ups.
And when they do – unnecessary lives are taken. Where do you choose to err? It’s all a matter of choices. We can be gods or we can be human.
It does not matter as much to me as to the poor chump who gets executed erroneously for whatever reason. He is not free to choose.
This has all become too expensive and too complicated. Just abolish the death penalty and be done with it.
Too Expensive…you may be the MOST IGNORANT F*#k that has ever learned to write…provided you wrote that and didn’t just copy and paste your statement from DumbF*#k.com
DumbF*#k.com sounds like the perfect address for your blog, too bad it died. :(
Too F*#king stupid to think of something yourself much???….LMAO…
If he was going for the most ignorant comment possible he probably would copy/paste it from your site.
Today’s winner – and you receive – our great thanks.
Since Texas has the largest pool of data we’ll use their data since reliable data (no data at all actually) seems to be available for South Carolina. So just locking someone up and throwing away the key is one third the cost of executing them. There is no minimal to no deterrent value in capital punishment (see murder rates in Western Europe vs. USA). Capital Punishment is an expensive, non-productive albatross around the necks of the USA. As the say in the divorce business “it’s cheaper to keep her”.
You can rail on all you want about the appeals, courts, liberals, idiots, Obama, whatever but we’ve had the current death penalty process in place since 1977 and 38 years of precedent in how long the trials, appeals, reviews, etc aren’t going to change any time soon. Abolition is the only practical solution to fix the current broken system. This isn’t liberal vs conservative it dollars and cents common sense.
Each death penalty case in Texas costs taxpayers about $2.3 million. That is about three times the cost of imprisoning someone in a single cell at the highest security level for 40 years. (“Executions Cost Texas Millions,” Dallas Morning News, March 8, 1992).
Not sure I agree with ALL that, but clicked like because I do agree with most.
GT, one of the problems is, those who know how to make it, are not willing to, it crosses their heart too much. So the lethal injection has become and expensive ordeal.
If I knew how to make it, I wouldn’t sell it.
They have access to make all the drugs they need. Painless, cheap, and they have inmates in the system that I’m sure would willingly produce it for a reduction in sentence. Heroin.
Select a plot of land somewhere at Wateree Prison Farm, have a few selected inmates grow and process opium poppies. Process all the opium poppies in to opium, refine it to morphine and heroin. I’m sure for a reduction in sentence there are a number of prisoners with the requisite skills. Most electric chairs were built by inmates, it’s not like there is any honor among thieves.
This is something I “grabbed” from Google and we can read it together if interested: http://www.csg.org/pubs/capitolideas/enews/issue65_4.aspx
First paragraph says it all: “A nationwide shortage of sodium thiopental, an anesthetic that is part of the three-drug cocktail used in lethal injections, has thrown capital punishment in the United States into disarray, delaying executions and forcing the change of execution protocols in several states.”
Some states have the execution protocol written in to law, others it is a “regulatory matter” of the prison system. South Carolina handles it through DOC regulation. About a year ago several states considered using Propofol as part of their protocol but many doctors across the nation rightfully complained as supplies of a necessary surgical anesthetic would likely have been cut off from the US. That’s why I suggested heroin and internal production. There is no medical use of heroin in the US at the current time and it’s rather simple to produce. The other option that would be cheap and painless would be nitrogen asphyxiation. The guillotine actually fits the above narrative as well, cheap and painless but it’s messy and therefore unacceptable to most of the population.
Well, I have never done heroin, but if I wanted to die, I think heroin would be a good way to go. I have researched it and many other drugs, particularly opiates, because they are so commonly abused. If I were on death row – heroin please.
I saw a horrible video about an addict on heroin at one time. All his veins collapsed (toes, fingers, arm and wherever else one might want to shoot the stuff), and he shot up in his groin. His dad, a doctor, I think, was dying.
The young man (30ish?) wanted to make his family proud (more specifically his dad before death), and made a true effort to get off drugs. I think it was a brain aneurism that killed him. If I can find the video, I’ll post it. I think it was UK?
I know there are not a lot of sympathizers on this site, but sometimes knowledge changes ones perspective. I know it did for me, but I can only speak for me.
hmmmm…
Herers an idea, just bring back hangings, preferbly public ones.
Yes, and not behind closed doors to be tuned in by video, They should be done outdoors for public viewing — live so to say. Gruesome – maybe, but everyone can see the finality of it. Perhaps multiple ones, and announced 3-4 weeks in advance so folks who are interested can make plans to attend which could run up to about 3,000 folks. No age limitations on attendance and no paid admissions.
on the grounds of the governor’s mansion. Make the decision to stay the execution a real gut check
No. In front Maurice’s – that way we get good BBQ while we watch. That old mall across the street holds plenty.
I think they should be held right in front of the church that propagates such madness. Wonder how many would show up? No, not really, the entire freaking church and then some.
Are you hinting at hanging them from the steeple? That would disturb my sensibilities.
Don’t make me laugh!
If they are due a good hanging, why not right on the steeple?
That would constitute extreme cruelty. The condemned taking in the aroma of bbq and hushpuppies being enjoyed by thousands while his throat burns dry with the taste of sweet tea he’ll never……..
Finley Park — more room for spectators
Well, then we could charge admission, it is a public place and spectators pay for entertainment. Are we not better than the Greek Arena’s?
Only a fee for parking is permissible because viewing the main events are a public service.
Oh hell no, we have to PAY to rent a shelter in the park.
hmmmmm….
Hmmmm….is right. Try to get a shelter, you know those parks we pay for with taxpayer dollars? You have to “reserve” a spot to use them, and they cost money. Oh wait, that isn’t a tax, just another fee? If you have the money, you have “private” access, in addition to the fees, or taxes, whatever one wants to call them, to use said park.
The one I did watch on TV/Movie, a failed execution, was absolutely excruciating and I wasn’t there and didn’t even die. That is in large part why I oppose the death penalty. The spin is, it saves money. The truth is, I simply don’t believe killing someone is the answer, unless there is no hope whatsoever for rehabilitation.
I do disagree in one respect, anyone but family should pay. (sarcasm)
Cases without the death penalty cost $740,000, while cases where the death penalty is sought cost $1.26 million. Maintaining each death row prisoner costs taxpayers $90,000 more per year than a prisoner in general population.
The reason death penalty cases cost so much is because the anti-DP defense bar intentionally drives up the cost of the case with frivolous experts and outrageous expenses that are calculated to give them the grounds of making the “it costs too much” argument. And before someone launches into the argument about how many death row exonerations there have been so the cost is justified I just want to call bullshit on that too. It is exceptionally rare to have anyone determined to be actually innocent. Most of these reversals come years later and do not result in a finding of actual innocence.
The whole thing is a racket for defense lawyers to get paid a ton of money while striking a moral pose and a bunch of bogus experts to collect hundreds of thousands of dollars pontificating on dubious scientific or psychological theories in an attempt to mitigate why some psychopath butchered somebody. Tragically, the MSM is also anti-DP so they just give them a pass.
This may all be true and knowing how the MSM, lawyers, and “experts” behave it likely is. The truth is the current death penalty system serves no purpose and is antiquated at best. Western Europe, Australia, Canada, Russia, Mexico, and all of South America seem to function just fine without it. It serves no purpose and on those grounds alone it should be eliminated. The only possible exception might be high treason during war time. Run of the mill murder nope, non-run of the mill brutal murder still nope.
The left’s successful and evil campaign to hinder the number of executions has done EXTREME damage to the civility, freedom and security level of this country…
As liberals protect the very heinous and murderous…the innocent are being slaughtered at record numbers…while trial lawyers grin and get fat from meat ripped off the corpses of those killed by the barbarians that Democrats molly-coddle…
DISGUSTING people…no doubt…
Yeah, like that bitch in Arizona that just got set free frm Death Row. If they’de have fried her ass quick-like a couple of years ago Law Enforcemente wouldn’t have gotten that black eye where it turned out they withheld evidence and framed her. Good point. Better to kill ’em quick, that ways if you kill the wrong blackie or hispanola-dude, ain’t no one finding out about it. Heck, wise not hang ’em whenze the gets caught and arrested. Why feed ’em at all.
Please post the name, I’d like to read up on that.
PHOENIX — A judge on Monday dismissed the murder case against an Arizona woman who spent more than 20 years on death row in the 1989 killing of her 4-year-old son.
Debra Jean Milke hugged her supporters and sobbed as she exited the Phoenix courtroom. Judge Rosa Mroz ended the case after prosecutors lost their last appeal last week.
Enjoy
Why are you, and Obama, still sucking off Maj. Nadal Hassan???…You Hideous monster, who advocates MURDER by Racist Jihadists…
I’m sorry, that has what to do with death row and the lady in Arizona? Do you wander in conversations like this during dinner with your wife? Or do you just eat infront of Drudge report.
Why don’t the idiot Cockroaches call up Utah and ask them for a copy of their Firing Squad Legislation
Apparently it has passed all the “legal” hurdles and is being implemented
Hell, they even have several inmates on death road signing up for it
Please read The Executioner Song.
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/opinion/readers/2015/03/20/lead-prosecutor-offers-apology-in-the-case-of-exonerated-death-row-inmate-glenn-ford/25049063/
I am opposed to the death penalty with few exceptions. I can see a couple reasons the bill is proposed. Most who favor the death penalty are looking for some kind of vengeance or in their mind “justice.” However, we really should see what goes wrong, take a look at the sadistic behavior we promote.
I understand why legislators what to “prevent the public and even the governor and legislature from learning what happens in carrying out executions by lethal injection, even when they go wrong.”
More people would oppose the death penalty and it takes emotion out of it. The families no longer get to stand and watch. No closure. No transparency. No accountability.
Neither side has a say. Given that idea, where do most stand on the death penalty?
I don’t know, but would be an interesting poll for victims.
Personally, I’m against the death penility, considering how often g’ment screws up.