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Four inmates on
Oklahoma’s death row petitioned the United States Supreme Court to hear their
petition for a stay of execution. One week after refusing to halt the execution
of one of the men, Charles Warner, the Court agreed to hear the petition on
behalf of the other three. Until the Court’s decision is made, the three men have
been granted a stay.
The petition asks for a review by the Court of a sedative, midazolam,
used in Oklahoma, Arizona, and Ohio, where in some cases inmates have suffered
agonizing executions. Its use therefore may violate the U.S. Constitution’s protection
against cruel and unusual punishment. The Supreme Court is expected to hear the
case in April and rule on the petition by July.
If the Court rules against the use of midazolam and states
continue to have a problem purchasing approved drugs, states will simply find
other ways to kill -- Virginia is considering the electric chair; Wyoming is
proposing firing squads.
The reason lethal injection states cannot purchase approved
drugs is that there is a shortage. The countries that produce the drugs refuse
to sell them in the United States if they will be used in executions.
One thing is for sure; the Supreme Court will not rule
against capital punishment and will continue to support its constitutionality.
What the Supreme Court and the United States should do,
however, is move to abolish the death penalty. The case before the Court would
be a good start. According to Amnesty International, the United States is one
of 40 countries that continue to impose the death penalty. One hundred
forty-one countries have abolished the death penalty. In the U.S., 18 states
have ended state-sanctioned killing. It’s about time, if not by the Supreme Court,
then by Congress to pass legislation prohibiting legal murder.
Abolishment would be an important action to take to negate the
culture of violence. State-sanctioned killing, no matter in what form – war,
police sanctioned killing, extrajudicial killing, capital punishment -- only
perpetuates violence. It essentially sends the message that the use of violence
to solve a problem, or achieve revenge or retaliation, is okay ... if the
government can take such action, then why can’t I.
Moreover, killing people for killing other people is a
childish tit for tat response and does not act as a deterrent. Ending the death
penalty in the United States is overdue; however, try explaining that to a
Republican.
Sources:
Lauren Galik, U.S.
Supreme Court to Review Oklahoma’s Lethal Injection Protocol, Reason.com
Francis X. Rocca, Pope Francis
calls for abolishing death penalty and life imprisonment, Catholic News
Service
Amnesty International, The
Death Penalty and Deterrence, AmnestyUSA.org
Amnesty International, Death
Penalty Facts, AmnestyUSA.org
Copyright © 2015 Horatio Green
