Nine months after Kenneth Smith’s botched lethal injection, state attorney general has asked for approval to kill him with nitrogen

  • derf82@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    2
    arrow-down
    13
    ·
    1 year ago

    Except them rotting in prison is cruel and unusual punishment. No, they get shelter, 3 meals a day, healthcare when they need it, and even recreation.

    And I’m anti-war. It’s ok for innocents to fight and kill each other, but not to kill murderers?

    • GiddyGap@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      15
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      The government shouldn’t be sanctioning killing. Period.

      Other than Japan, the US is the only Western country left with this primitive, revenge-based way of looking at crime and punishment. Yet, the US continues to be the most violent country of them all and the murder capital of the Western world.

      Usually, when something doesn’t work, we try something else. Time for the US to try something else.

      • derf82@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        arrow-down
        5
        ·
        1 year ago

        The US is likely more violent due to a combination of corrupt capitalism and lead poisoning.

        We do need to try something else, but that something else is in terms of economics, infrastructure, and healthcare, not punishment.

        • GiddyGap@lemm.ee
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          6
          ·
          1 year ago

          do need to try something else, but that something else is in terms of economics, infrastructure, and healthcare

          I definitely agree there, especially in healthcare. What an awful mess in the US when you look at how successful other countries are with universal healthcare.

          But I will just never accept capital punishment. It’s such an awful way to seek revenge. It’s especially surprising that conservatives love the concept of government power extending to killing its own citizens. And evangelicals who are commanded by Jesus himself to turn the other cheek and seek forgiveness. I know they are backward on many things, but this seems particularly egregious.

          • derf82@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            2
            arrow-down
            4
            ·
            1 year ago

            See, you are assuming it’s about revenge. No, it is just acknowledging that what is done is so awful, you have to take the consequence to the next level.

            And while I get wanting to call out evangelical hypocrisy, the Bible should have nothing to do with policy. Besides, the most famous supposedly anti-death penalty account was likely added years later: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_and_the_woman_taken_in_adultery

            • GiddyGap@lemm.ee
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              8
              ·
              1 year ago

              Yes, I definitely assume it’s about revenge, because, to most people, it’s about revenge. You might call is “justice.” I call it revenge. It’s an eye for an eye. It’s old testament, and Jesus specifically pointed it out as wrong many times. Not only in the story you mentioned. Yet, here we are.

              • derf82@lemmy.world
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                1
                arrow-down
                4
                ·
                1 year ago

                It is a punishment to fit the crime, as it should be.

                When else does Jesus talk specifically about the death penalty? He was talking about getting hit with turn the other cheek. You can’t turn the other cheek when you are dead.

                • GiddyGap@lemm.ee
                  link
                  fedilink
                  arrow-up
                  4
                  ·
                  1 year ago

                  It’s society seeking revenge. The dead don’t care.

                  The bible talks about not seeking revenge on so many occasions.

                  One example:

                  Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

                  Romans 12:17‭-‬21 NIV

                  Many other examples. Yet, evangelicals are some of the biggest proponents of this type of government-sanctioned revenge.

                  • derf82@lemmy.world
                    link
                    fedilink
                    English
                    arrow-up
                    1
                    arrow-down
                    1
                    ·
                    1 year ago

                    That isn’t talking about a secular death penalty, which has prescribed under the pentateuch such as at Numbers 35:16-20. Also, Romans is traditionally believed to be written by Paul and is not a gospel account.

                    But what does it matter? Policy should not be based on the Bible.