Pick your poison

There is a fairly significant divide when it comes to the death penalty debate. No matter what one side or the other may say in justification of their position on the issue; it is unlikely that the other side will be moved. As long as the death penalty is a legal option, there will always be those who are strongly supportive and those who are vehemently in opposition. Even when, and if, the death penalty ever becomes an illegal means of punishment, I dare say that those who support it will not rest until it is once again available. Just as those in opposition will never rest until they are able to convince the powers that be that it must go. To them, it is all just simply barbaric. The proverbial line in the sand cannot be altered according to which side you may find yourself on.<br /> <br /> Having accepted the concept that there is no middle ground, the overall focus on this topic has been changed from the premise of the actual laws that allow executions to the form of execution that may be allowed. In other words, we now have to decide the best practice in which executions can be allowed that will be the most acceptable to the most people. Perhaps this is an easier concept, but the negotiations have been as difficult as the original subject matter. For instance, in Georgia and several other states the electric chair was the method of choice when it came time to carry out the execution. This was the accepted practice for years and for good cause. It was a method that was designed to take the life of the condemned person. With few exceptions, it most often did just that. Case closed? Oh no, not by a long shot.<br /> <br /> In 2001 the state of Georgia, and several other states, decided that the electric chair was much too inhumane. They decided to do away with the electric chair and move to a kinder, gentler form of execution known as lethal injection. This allegedly allows the condemned person to die, but to die with some sense of dignity. Never mind that we have a viewing room, just as we did with the electric chair, to view this more humane method. Once again, a method designed to take the life of another person. And, once again, without fail it has done just that. Case closed? Oh no. We have other issues to consider. In early 2011 the Georgia Department of Corrections, along with other states, learned that the drug that they were using was illegal. Apparently, the drug of choice, sodium thiopental had been seized by the Drug Enforcement Association due to the fact that it was not manufactured in the United States. Heaven forbid that we would ever have an execution with drugs made in another country. It would simply be barbaric. So, we have now switched to the barbiturate pentobarbital. It does about the same thing, but it is made right here in the good ol' U.S.A. We had a brief moratorium, but now we are apparently back up and running.<br /> <br /> I wonder if we are missing the point here all together. If we are going to have legal executions, let's get on with it. If we are not, let's just get over it and move on. But, this continued debate as to the form of execution, the type drugs that are used to deliver the final blow, and on and on and on is bordering on ridiculous. Don't get me wrong. I'm one of those who fall flatly and precisely on the side of the line that is in favor of the death penalty. I just think that we are putting way too much effort into how the actual event will take place when the very person, and very reason, that the execution is taking place received no choices of how they would die, the method that it would occur and whether or not their death was in fact done in a civilized and humane fashion. It was much less complicated; they were just murdered in cold blood.<br /> <br /> Some states have not yet bought into all of these politically correct executions. Some still have electric chairs, some still have gas chambers. Some still have firing squads and some still have hangings. Some actually give the condemned person their choice of how they will die. But, they refuse to get so wrapped up in the treatment of the condemned that they forget about the actual victim. I don't believe that we will ever hear about a debate in the state of Washington as to whether or not the rope that was used for the hanging was made in China or here in this country. A rope is a rope and a drug used for executions is a drug used for executions. Let's get on with it or let's just get out of the business. Next thing you know, we will be providing their favorite blanket and choice of lullaby as they drift off all snugly for the eternal nap.<br /> <br /> I'm all for abiding by the laws, I'm all for the premise of being innocent until proven guilty, I'm all for exhausting all appeals to be certain that true justice has been served, and I'm all in favor of punishing anyone who compromises the system which does not allow such justice to be of firm foundation. I'm all for ensuring that the execution is not done in a manner that would obviously be considered as a cruel and unusual act. And, if it is ever decided that we will no longer have executions as a legal option, I will also accept that and move on to what punishment is available. But let's face it, if we have executions, our ultimate goal must be that someone is going to die. That is the reality and nature of the beast. I just think that some of us have forgotten who the beast really is.<br /> <br /> Stan L. Hall<br /> <br /> <i>If you would like to have Stan speak at your next group event, please send your requests to [email protected]. The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and are not those of the Gwinnett District Attorney's Office.</i><br /> <br /> <i> Featured columnists' opinions, views and comments are not necessarily those of AccessNorthGa.com or JACOBS Media.</i>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2011/6/239318