Tennessee brings back the electric chair
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — As the rest of the nation debates the feasibility and humanity of lethal injections against a backdrop of scarce drugs and botched executions, Tennessee has come up with an alternative: the electric chair.
Republican Gov. Bill Haslam signed a bill into law Thursday allowing the state to electrocute death row inmates in the event prisons are unable to obtain the drugs, which have become more and more scarce following a European-led boycott of drug sales for executions.
Tennessee lawmakers overwhelmingly passed the electric chair legislation in April, with the Senate voting 23-3 and the House 68-13 in favor of the bill. SOURCE
I know what the Constitution says about *cruel and unusual* punishment, I have read a few legal reviews and opinions, but I just can’t see where a lethal injection is, or should be the only way to execute a prisoner.
That is a picture of *Old Sparky*, the electric chair that’s on display at the Texas State Prison in Huntsville, Texas. I am guessing that it wouldn’t take a lot to get the Old Boy refurbished and ready to fry, if it’s not already.
Tennessee is the first state to enact a law to reintroduce the electric chair without giving prisoners an option, said Richard Dieter, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, a Washington-based nonprofit organization that opposes executions and tracks the issue.
“There are states that allow inmates to choose, but it is a very different matter for a state to impose a method like electrocution,” he said. “No other state has gone so far.”
Yet…
There is much made about the *rights* of prisoners on death row. I am not the least bit concerned with what an execution does to them or how it feels to someone that is put to death for committing a capital offense.
Bleeding heart Liberals cry about the way a prisoner looked, about the terrified look in their eyes, the way they flinched as the drugs from the injection were administered and so forth, they say that is so *harsh* and not something one human should do to another.
You know what I never hear? I never hear the bleeding hearts speak about the victim(s) that were killed, how they were killed, the terror and pain they must have felt and how they suffered excruciating pain in death.
But you sure do hear a lot of concerns for the one that did the murder(s).
Personally, I believe execution by lethal injection is much too kind for a person that has committed murder(s) and *other* heinous crimes. The prisoner gets a needle in a vein, goes to sleep, and barring any complications, he never wakes up. THAT is too kind!
I have no objection to execution, be it by hanging, firing squad, electrocution or even a lethal injection if that’s all you have, but I have long believed that the person to be executed should suffer death in the exact manner in which they caused the death of their victim(s).
I know by now some people are thinking that I am cruel, heartless, mean and uncaring, and when it comes to the execution of a murderer they would be correct, you see, I have also long thought that it would be most appropriate to allow the family of the victim(s) to exact justice for their departed family member(s).
You hear so many people say, “I wish I could get my hands on that SOB for 5 minutes..”
Well, OK, give them a chance to do just that; put up or shut up.
Unless you have lost a friend or loved one to a murder you may not feel like I do, even if you have, and you happen to be a bleeding heart Liberal, you may still cry about how you have forgiven the person that killed your family or friends.
Maybe, as far as some folks are concerned it would be the Christian thing to do, forgive he that has brought harm to you and yours. If that’s how you feel, OK, it’s your loss.
As for me; Whoever sheds man’s blood, his blood will be shed by man, for God made man in His image. – Genesis 9:6
I’m not the *forgiving* kind when someone hurts or murders one of my own. I guess I’m just an Old Testament kind of guy, an eye for an eye and all that.
They should use the same stuff Veterinarians use on animals to euthanize them.
Actually, to not put a convicted murder to death could be considered unchristian according to the Book of Romans which is New Testament.
Romans 13: 3-4 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
It’s not surprising how many bleeding hearts express sympathy for the condemned while completely ignoring their victims. Here in Oklahoma, the recent ‘botched’ execution resulted in a slew of condemnation from the left for the ‘suffering’ experienced by the murderer before he finally died. It appears to me to be a successful execution; not sure where this ‘botched’ stuff comes from. Next time some lefty expresses sympathy for the condemned, ask them what the name of the victim was. I’ll betcha they don’t have a clue.
Of course they won’t have a clue. Nor will they know the circumstances and situation under which that person suffered and was killed. That is PURPOSEFUL on their part.
BZ
Hybrid energy. If chemicals are bad for you, just add electricity.
Good point. Aren’t we to eschew petroleum for electricity, after all?
BZ
Ha ha ha. The leftist do gooders in Europe banned the sale of a drug used for executions in America. So in their typical misguided zest they just made executions more miserable and prolonged for the condemned fuckers.
Actually I agree with Bob and wonder why they don’t use what veteranarians use. If you have ever had a cat or dog in your lap while they are being euthanized then you know how effective that cocktail is.
I think it is hysterical that the libs, oh so desparate to worry over how a death row scumbag will feel when he goes to his final judgment, that they have now made his trip from Tennessee to there so much more painful.
Lethal injection is exactly as Fred says, a stick in the arm, and off to sleepyville, never to wake up. The discomfort is so minimal. Now, if you are a murderer in Tennessee, you get there by riding the white lightning.
I do not care what anyone says. Death by electruction is DAMN PAINFUL. Did you ever get zapped by a wall outlet. It smarts a little. Imagine that times several thousand. How about a police tazer? I have been hit with one (I am a former cop and had to “experience” this bit of fun during training), and I can tell you, IT SUCKS A LOT. And that was a 5 second hit. I assure you, the worst 5 seconds of my life. I would admit to wearing lady’s underwear (which I don’t) on public television, if you threatened me with another shock. It is that bad. So, while I have never been in an electric chair with the “on” switch engaged, I am completely sure, it feels like every cop in every police agency, armed with a tazer in each hand, shot you all at once. This lasts until your heart no longer has the “energy” (pun intended), to keep going. Those seconds (should be minutes in my opinion), are the last and the worst a death row inmate will have.
So, this is what has become of libs fear over death row inmates feeling a small “ouchy”. These prisoners now get a very painful trip. GOOD. The law of uninteded consequences seems to ALWAYS bite the libs in the ass. They never think past step one of their plan.
I say give the libs what they want. It is only right to ban lethal injection and bring back electric chairs. Heck, instead of building one for each state, build ONE really NICE ONE, and install it in Tennesse (the center of our country, why not?). Prisoners get a free trip to the land of Elvis’ home, and sat in the the great throne of beyond.
To pay for this bad boy, televise it. Show other bad guys just what they could look forward to if they decide to kill someone themselves. Sell tickets for the live event and raise money for the maintenace of the chair, and the surrounding stadium. And of course, give the victims family the first opportunity to hit the switch. Lot’s of family members, put in more switches. If they don’t want the chance to do this, auction off the right to the high bidder, and the proceeds go to the family. Heck, put it on ebay, it will get lots of bids for sure.
Liberals just don’t get it. They are like small children, who only want happy things to happen. But in the real world, bad people exist. And some are so bad, they need to be cleansed from this world. And in doing so, they may get an ouchy, and so be it. When on when will the grownups quit indulging these children, and send them to their rooms with no supper? The problem seems to be that we let the immature adults vote, and they voted for other immature adults, who are now in power, and are now trying to create a world for immature adults only. The grownups handed over the power, and are now suffering the consequences. Luckily, reality is keeping these immature adults at bay. They can manipulate society, but not reality.
Get some use out of the scumbags.
Use them as spare parts for those that need organ transplants.
Use them until the operations kill them.
Fred, Forgiveness has NOTHING to do with punishment and responsibility. I forgive every murderer before I support their execution (punishment earned by them for their actions)…
Throw’em in the swamp and let the ‘gators’ eat them.
Televise it into ALL prisons!
After all, this is Texas.