Texas Jails Abolish "Last Meals"

[Dean]

"Texas jails abolish last meals after uneaten banquet"

[. . .] Prison officials in the US state of Texas have abolished the traditional last meal request for inmates who are facing execution. [. . .]

Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15034970

Is it just me, or is it that there is something unspeakably obscene about having the death penalty in the first place? How on Earth does the US respond to such barbarity? This only adds to the obscenity in my opinion. How is it that the United States is the last well-established Western Democracy to allow the death penalty? :|

 

[kenandkids]

The death penalty offends me pretty deeply, and the recent set of murders by states makes it even more offensive. As for the meals, I'm surprised Texas allows any meals for inmates...





This one commenter just doesn't get the whole idea that blacks aren't evil or something...

 

[kenandkids]

Just in case you want a christian reason for state murder... cause it affirms life!


http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2011/09/24/christian-leader-the-death-penalty-affirms-the-sanctity-of-life/

 

[ImprobableJoe]

Outside of the death penalty debate, this new rule just seems petty and small.

 

[kenandkids]

Outside of the death penalty debate, this new rule just seems [Perry] and small.

There, fixed it for you... lol

 

[ImprobableJoe]

Outside of the death penalty debate, this new rule just seems [Perry] and small.

There, fixed it for you... lol

Hah!!!

Although to be fair, the last guy Texas executed actually needed killing. I would have done the deed myself without hesitation.

 

[kenandkids]

Although to be fair, the last guy Texas executed actually needed killing. I would have done the deed myself without hesitation.

That person was disgusting and guilty of a horrendous crime, like the serial killer that raped and murdered my sister. It doesn't change my opinion about state sanctioned murder even slightly though...

 

[Aught3]

Is it just me, or is it that there is something unspeakably obscene about having the death penalty in the first place? How on Earth does the US respond to such barbarity? This only adds to the obscenity in my opinion. How is it that the United States is the last well-established Western Democracy to allow the death penalty? :|

It seems to correlate somewhat with the religiousity of the country. Kill them all and let God sort it out?

 

[Duvelthehobbit666]

I would have to agree with Joe on this one. There are people out there who have done such horrendous crimes, crimes of such unspeakable evil that it would be best to kill them. There is a Belgian serial killer and rapist (can't remember the name though but there definitely will be people who know him) who raped and killed girls and women. He kept them locked in a basement and starved them. This is inexcusable and he should die for his crimes. I do want to say that there are a lot of crimes which should not have the death penalty which still have. The death penalty should be only there to help us get rid of the worst of the worst of the worst. The serial killers who torture and rape their victims before, or ideological terrorists like the Unabomber or Timothy McVeigh. These people stopped being humans in my eye when they committed their horrendous crimes. Such actions are not excusable.

To go back on topic, the whole idea to stop giving last meals is idiotic. This seems to be one of those actions the government undertakes to make it seem like they are cutting costs somewhere when in fact it really does nothing. How much would it save? I doubt that it would save even $2000 a year. And if the state does execute someone, you can at least be nice to them and give them a last meal. It is not that difficult.

 

[nasher168]

Hmmrrmmrmrrmrmmm :?

I'm still not convinced I support the death penalty except in cases that the lives of others are in immediate danger (as in, shooting a gunman). There is a lot to be said for "being the better man" (or woman, really). We don't have to sink to the same level as barbarians and our humanity is a precious thing to keep hold of.

Gandalf says it quite well:
"Many that live deserve death. And some die that deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then be not too eager to deal out death in the name of justice, fearing for your own safety. Even the wise cannot see all ends."

 

[WarK]

Gandalf says it quite well:
"Many that live deserve death. And some die that deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then be not too eager to deal out death in the name of justice, fearing for your own safety. Even the wise cannot see all ends."

This. Listen to Gandalf!

And saying "I'm against death penalty but this one actually deserves it" is a slipper slope.

Perhaps it'd be better to look at different countries and their approach to death penalty and see what's more effective in building a better society. For the purpose of this topic let's assume better means a society with lower crime rate.

Death penalty is only about retaliation, I admit the feeling isn't foreign to me, but it achieves nothing. I guess it's emotion vs. reason. Apparently that's how our brains work, our reptilian parts of brain act on emotions, newer, mammalian parts are more "reasonable".