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Opinion
 

Staff Editorial

                Chris Elliott                        Zach Lee                  Christian Palmer
                Geronimo Rodriguez       Blake Whitaker       Kristen Young

Lethal injection might  not be best option 

A death penalty watchdog group has come out in opposition to lethal injection, saying the procedure puts condemned inmates at risk for unnecessary suffering. 

Human Rights Watch issued a report Monday citing eyewitness testimony of botched executions in which prisoners injected with potassium chloride seemed to be in intense pain before their hearts stopped. Execution procedure calls for the condemned to be given doses of anesthesia and muscle relaxants to reduce the potential for pain.

HRW cites the fact that even veterinarians are not allowed to use potassium chloride to put down dogs or cats unless the animals are completely knocked out. There are no such provisions, however, for prisoners set to be executed.

If you support the death penalty, there's no denying the Bill of Rights demands that executions should be as painless as possible. Knowingly supporting procedures that include the potential for excruciating pain before death is clearly a case of cruel and unusual punishment. 

Recent scandals involving DNA evidence and incompetence in crime labs have raised concern about the fairness of the death penalty. However, if the death penalty is working as it should -- and that's a big if, nowadays -- those being executing are in that position because they committed heinous crimes. But this is America, and no matter what a person does, torture is not a legal punishment (provided you're an American citizen). 

Lethal injection seems, or seemed, like a viable option because of the clinical, medical feel of the killing. But apparently, it may not be totally painless.

If that's the case, perhaps society should consider a simpler method, if there is to be a death penalty. Why not simply shoot prisoners in the head? That's not an attempt at satire or meant to shock. A bullet to the head is quick and painless, if not messy. But what does it say about our society if we're willing to basically torture condemned prisoners just to avoid seeing some blood?