Supreme Court Gives the OK to Proceed with Executions

News in Brief: Lethal Injection Ruled Not Cruel and Unusual for Humans

Executions in the USA have been "on hold" for the last 7 months while the Supreme court ruled whether lethal injection, the method used to execute prisoners is cruel and unusual, and violates the 8th amendment.

According to The New York Times, yesterday, in a vote of 7-2, the court has decided that executions may resume. Inmates from Kentucky, Ralph Baze, along with Ralph Bowling challenged the Supreme Court in a law suit claiming that the three drug cocktail was indeed cruel and unusual. They lost.

Although the court claims it's not cruel and unusual, according to The Texas Gazette most veterinarians are not allowed to use the same method to euthanize an animal. And in Texas, the state called "the busiest killing state," one has to receive a license in order to be a technician to euthanize an animal. It takes up to 2 years of study to receive this license. The executioner and his team are untrained and carry no license to kill. Medical staff are not allowed to assist in executions as it goes against their code of ethics.

Botched executions are common in the nation and many abolitionist claim it is the use of lethal injection. The thought of an inmate being paralyzed by the first drug, unable to move or speak out, while the remaining drugs flow through their veins, is cruel and unusual in some peoples opinions. It's not allowed for animals, so why should it be allowed for humans?

In December of 2006, an inmate in Florida, Angel Diaz was administered lethal injection and it took over a half hour for him to die. According to reports from St. Petersburg Times, a second dose of the drug was given to Diaz, who appeared to be in much pain. This is not the first botched execution in our nation. Many of the offenders have collapsed veins from intensive drug use and makes it difficult to administer the 3 drugs. Ohio botched the execution of Christopher Newton when they could not find a vein, and it took 2 hours to execute him.