Capital Punishment:
How Much is TOO Much?
How Much is Too Much?
Capital punishment support has been soaring as of late, and so have executions. According to deathpenaltyusa.org, a site that helps others to see the injustice in high numbers of executions, in 1964, there were 15 executions. Last year, the number was 72.
Horrific Death
Texas, like most other states, only uses lethal injection. But, like flu vaccines, doesn't take effect immediately. So death-row convicts are lying, knowing they are dying, not knowing when, writhing in pain.
Electrify Me
Some states do other methods than lethal injection. For example, Tennessee uses the electric chair if the lethal injection isn't available. But that means that the convict doesn't get to pick HOW THEY DIE. What's worse than that?
Hangin' Around
In Delaware, New Hampshire, and Washington state, if no lethal injections are available, or-if an option to that specific inmate-if they select it, they will die hanging. There are multiple methods, but the most common is the standard drop, in which the inmate drops 6-8 feet to break their neck. They will hang there, paralyzed, until they die.
How You Can Help
Voice your opinion. Write a congressional representative, or even a senate representative. While there are many people who support a decrease in executions, there are a good majority who don't. There nearly infinite options to fix it. Be creative! You could contact the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (NCADP). You have options, except for one: sitting around, doing nothing, like an ostrich with its head in the sand. So get moving!
Picture Citations
Special thanks to the following for providing pictures:
"Court Denies Lethal Injection Challenge." CBS Las Vegas. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2015.
"Tennessee Governor Approves Return to Electric Chair For Executions - Atlanta Blackstar." Atlanta Blackstar. N.p., 23 May 2014. Web. 20 Mar. 2015.
"Images For Gallows Medieval." Images For Gallows Medieval. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2015.