Recently, pharmaceutical companies, many of which are European, have stopped supplying lethal drugs for executions. This shortage of lethal drugs has caused states to find alternatives for their executions. For example, Tennessee has recently passed a law allowing the use of the electric chair again. A firing squad, yes, a firing squad is now allowed in Utah as a backup measure. Nebraska has not executed anyone since 1997. There is currently no execution method legally available for death row inmates due to an expiration of the drug sodium thiopental. Due to the inactivity of the government program, Nebraskan lawmakers voted 30-13 that would abolish the death penalty. However, Governor Ricketts has promised to veto the bill, although the 30-13 vote would override his veto. Still, Ricketts urges lawmakers to reconsider.
Now after hearing that Ricketts would veto the abolishment law, I immediately thought he was a hypocrite and I still do. This all has to do with the pro-life stance he holds. Yes, pro-life is typically associated and defined as "opposing abortion and euthanasia." However, "pro-life" literally has the word life in it. If someone identifies as pro-life, I would think that they support all life and not just a developing child in the womb. For what good is it to support a life in the womb but then not support it when it is actually out in the real world living? If Gov. Ricketts supports life, then he would support it until natural death. This is why I believe he is a hypocrite, because if he values the death penalty, then he does not value life.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/nebraska-repeal-death-penalty-amid-drug-shortage-30371296
Very interesting Joe. I couldn’t help but think the same thing as I read about Gov. Ricketts’ position on the death penalty. No longer can it be considered constitutional. It is cruel and unusual.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the process of the unicameral, it will have to vote two more times on the bill, this first vote is used to simply continue the conversation. It is very possible that this bill will fail and the governor may not even need to veto it.
ReplyDeleteI think that the death penalty is not only the inhumane option (obviously) but it is also often the more expensive option. If the people can't focus on human life, they have to be focusing on the value of the tax payer's dollar. However, if for some reason, detainment does not take away the threat someone poses to society, adequate measures should be taken. Whether that is the death penalty or some other option, it should come down to the specific situation.
ReplyDeletewell written, Joe!
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