Meddling judges
The case I mentioned last week regarding a judge unilaterally changing California's procedures for administering the death penalty has borne fruit -- now the state can't execute convicted rapist and murderer Michael Morales [PDF Format].
California officials postponed indefinitely the execution of convicted killer Michael Morales on Tuesday after notifying a federal court they could not comply with a court order that medical professionals assist in carrying out his death sentence.
San Quentin State Prison spokesman Lt. Vernell Crittendon said prison officials, who had delayed the execution earlier in the day, could not find a licensed medical professional willing to inject a lethal drug into Morales.
"The warden has chosen to stand down," Crittendon told reporters, adding that he expects a court hearing on May 2 or May 3 to review the mechanics of California's lethal injection method of execution.
Separately, the clerk for the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco told Reuters that California Attorney General Bill Lockyer's office had decided to postpone the execution indefinitely.
"They notified us they weren't proceeding with the execution tonight," said clerk Cathy Catterson. "Accordingly the state will not proceed with the execution."
Catterson said Lockyer's office informed the court it could not comply with a judge's order last week requiring the state to take new precautions to assure a lethal injection did not cause undue suffering to Morales.
I understand that potentially being conscious as they inject drugs into you that will stop your heart could be a real downer. So, in the interest of minimizing the suffering of Morales, may I suggest a quicker solution: a bullet.
This judge is way out of line as he has in effect legislated a new procedure for California carrying out the death penalty. State Attorney General Bill Lockyer (Democrat who someday might want a higher office) should appeal this ruling and get it overturned. Morales has already lived far too long.
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Amazing, some doctors don't seem to mind euthanizing ordianry citizens but can't pull the trigger(pun intended) on convicted rapist murderers.
I do not think a bullet will work - after all, this could upset the anti-gun crowd.
We need to use something on Morales, and the rest of death rows around the US, which is quick, pretty painless, and has a 100% kill ratio:
Sledge Hammers.
Yep, the tried and true method, which, when employed properly by several large men, will render an inmate unconscious, I believe, with one quick blow. Imagine...the warden counts "1, 2, 3!" and then all three men hit the son of a bitch, er, inmate, in the head. The attendees to the execution should be allowed to hold their ears for the inevitable skull cracking, but, alas, after about 10 seconds the deed will be done (minus the clean-up, best left to others).
Now, if THAT is cruel and unusual, I submit that we handcuff the piece of shit, er, inmate, take them up in a nice 747 (first class, possibly), to about 35,000 feet, then open the door and throw them out (handcuffed, of course). The end is quick, painless, and man do the inmates get a great view as they hit maximum velocity.
So, if the judges continue to find any of these as cruel punishment, I propose that we take the judge and his family, try it out on them, and ask them after it is over whether they feel unusually treated. If they can answer with a cracked skull or a flat body, I say: get rid of the whole death penalty.
[...] I had thought that my argument was a mere thought-experiment. Now that a California judge has indefinitely delayed an execution because the state cannot find a licensed physician willing to participate, it has become quite timely. If you think pharmacists can be ordered to dispense birth-control pills, do you also think that California doctors can be ordered to participate in an execution or lose their right to practice. If not, why not? [...]
[...] had thought that my argument was a mere thought-experiment. Now that a California judge has indefinitely delayed an execution because the state cannot find a licensed physician willing to [...]