Lethal Injection

Dear Editor, A lot of inmates on death row are questioning lethal injection as the means of being put to death. Why? Didn't they commit the crimes they were convicted of in a court of law? Wasn't lethal injection the punishment handed down for the crimes they committed? Did they take into consideration the pain the families of the people they killed went through because of their crimes? They shouldn't be shown any mercy when it comes to putting them to death by lethal injection.

Dear Editor, In a letter to the editor in The Advocate-Messenger on Jan. 17, Terry Bugg makes a fundamental error in his argument that prisoners have no right to object to lethal injection as a means of execution. The death penalty is just that; a judgment by society that some crimes are so heinous that the perpetrator deserves to die. But since the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution bars "cruel and unusual punishment," a death sentence is not permission to inflict unnecessary pain or suffering.

Cruel and unusual? Does lethal injection violate the Constitution's ban on "cruel and unusual punishment?" That's the question the United States Supreme Court is being asked to decide in a case involving the murder of a Winchester police officer's father. Officer Dennis Briscoe's father, Powell County Deputy Arthur Briscoe, was killed along with Sheriff Steve Bennett in 1992 by Ralph Baze, who is on death row in Kentucky. Baze's attorneys argue that, when the three-drug mixture used to put people to death in 35 of the 36 states that allow the death penalty is administered improperly, the result can amount to torture.

Dear Editor, In her letter to the editor on Jan. 18 in The Advocate-Messenger, Jen Thompson informs us the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution does not support lethal injection as a means of execution. I can not help but wonder if she realizes what the motive for the Kentucky inmates who filed this lawsuit are. I don't know of any inmates who support the death penalty. Nor do I know of many inmates who acknowledge guilt for their crimes. One of our greatest problems in this country is those who have achieved the divine right of "higher education" (educated beyond their knowledge)

Briscoe family wants justice to be served To the editor: Ralph Baze has once again been allowed to take the spotlight. His appeals on "change of venue" and "lethal injection" have once again granted him another stay-of- execution. The man convicted for the brutal murders of Powell County Sheriff Steve Bennett and Deputy Arthur Briscoe in 1992 should give credit where it's due: the appeals process for death row inmates. The murder trial was originally moved from Powell to Franklin Circuit Court by Judge James King.

For 16 years, justice has eluded a Winchester police officer, Dennis Briscoe, and his family. A unending series of appeals, the grind of a sluggish judicial system and a relentless string of arguments have all conspired to stall the long-awaited execution of the man who was convicted of murdering Briscoe's father and uncle in 1992. Now the family has landed in the center of a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case, which could forever change the way lethal injection is administered in America and further postpone the execution, along with executions around the country, for years.

The images would be the ultimate in “reality” programming: A TV broadcast or online streaming video of an actual execution. Would you watch? Would you want news organizations - or anyone with a computer, for that matter - to broadcast or stream it on a live or delayed basis? On July 22, Georgia prison officials complied with a request from Andrew Grant DeYoung's attorneys for a video of Young's death by lethal injection for killing three people in 1993. There are no plans for the DeYoung tape to be aired anywhere - yet. The video, being held by a court, could be evidence in a future lawsuit over execution methods.

A reader asked me what the trainer meant by the word "bonding. " So I searched past K-9 Corners and came across a story in January 1993, that is worth repeating. While I was visiting in New York City, I happened to notice a large bluish-grey dog lazily trotting down the street attached to no one. Now in New York City that is very unusual, and since he seemed healthy and well-fed, I scanned the crowd on the street to see if anyone looked like a dog owner. About this time a woman stepped out of the main stream of pedestrian traffic, and glancing in my direction quietly chirped.

Last week I mentioned a friend's dog that was so sick. Well, I am happy to report that the dog has responded to the veterinary care and, although weak, is back home recovering. The bond between this dog and the owner reminded me of another story I wrote about years ago. It is worth repeating. This was written in January of 1993. While I was visiting in New York City, I happened to notice a large bluish-grey dog lazily trotting down the street attached to - no one. Now in New York City that is very unusual and since he seemed healthy and well-fed, I scanned the crowd on the street to see if anyone looked like a dog owner.

The images would be the ultimate in “reality” programming: A TV broadcast or online streaming video of an actual execution. Would you watch? Would you want news organizations - or anyone with a computer, for that matter - to broadcast or stream it on a live or delayed basis? On July 22, Georgia prison officials complied with a request from Andrew Grant DeYoung's attorneys for a video of Young's death by lethal injection for killing three people in 1993. There are no plans for the DeYoung tape to be aired anywhere - yet. The video, being held by a court, could be evidence in a future lawsuit over execution methods.

Last week I mentioned a friend's dog that was so sick. Well, I am happy to report that the dog has responded to the veterinary care and, although weak, is back home recovering. The bond between this dog and the owner reminded me of another story I wrote about years ago. It is worth repeating. This was written in January of 1993. While I was visiting in New York City, I happened to notice a large bluish-grey dog lazily trotting down the street attached to - no one. Now in New York City that is very unusual and since he seemed healthy and well-fed, I scanned the crowd on the street to see if anyone looked like a dog owner.

Dear Editor, In her letter to the editor on Jan. 18 in The Advocate-Messenger, Jen Thompson informs us the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution does not support lethal injection as a means of execution. I can not help but wonder if she realizes what the motive for the Kentucky inmates who filed this lawsuit are. I don't know of any inmates who support the death penalty. Nor do I know of many inmates who acknowledge guilt for their crimes. One of our greatest problems in this country is those who have achieved the divine right of "higher education" (educated beyond their knowledge)

Dear Editor, In a letter to the editor in The Advocate-Messenger on Jan. 17, Terry Bugg makes a fundamental error in his argument that prisoners have no right to object to lethal injection as a means of execution. The death penalty is just that; a judgment by society that some crimes are so heinous that the perpetrator deserves to die. But since the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution bars "cruel and unusual punishment," a death sentence is not permission to inflict unnecessary pain or suffering.

Dear Editor, A lot of inmates on death row are questioning lethal injection as the means of being put to death. Why? Didn't they commit the crimes they were convicted of in a court of law? Wasn't lethal injection the punishment handed down for the crimes they committed? Did they take into consideration the pain the families of the people they killed went through because of their crimes? They shouldn't be shown any mercy when it comes to putting them to death by lethal injection.

For 16 years, justice has eluded a Winchester police officer, Dennis Briscoe, and his family. A unending series of appeals, the grind of a sluggish judicial system and a relentless string of arguments have all conspired to stall the long-awaited execution of the man who was convicted of murdering Briscoe's father and uncle in 1992. Now the family has landed in the center of a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case, which could forever change the way lethal injection is administered in America and further postpone the execution, along with executions around the country, for years.

Cruel and unusual? Does lethal injection violate the Constitution's ban on "cruel and unusual punishment?" That's the question the United States Supreme Court is being asked to decide in a case involving the murder of a Winchester police officer's father. Officer Dennis Briscoe's father, Powell County Deputy Arthur Briscoe, was killed along with Sheriff Steve Bennett in 1992 by Ralph Baze, who is on death row in Kentucky. Baze's attorneys argue that, when the three-drug mixture used to put people to death in 35 of the 36 states that allow the death penalty is administered improperly, the result can amount to torture.

JUST SHOOT THEM To the Sun: The recent newspaper articles about death row inmates challenging lethal injection as a form of unconstitutional "cruel and unusual" punishment amaze me. Where do we find attorneys to represent them and fight for their rights? Sounds like a guaranteed paycheck for attorneys at taxpayers' expense. One set of criminals feeding off another? Surely not! I have the perfect solution, and I hope the federal courts take my advice. Why not use the same methods the criminals use on their victims?

A reader asked me what the trainer meant by the word "bonding. " So I searched past K-9 Corners and came across a story in January 1993, that is worth repeating. While I was visiting in New York City, I happened to notice a large bluish-grey dog lazily trotting down the street attached to no one. Now in New York City that is very unusual, and since he seemed healthy and well-fed, I scanned the crowd on the street to see if anyone looked like a dog owner. About this time a woman stepped out of the main stream of pedestrian traffic, and glancing in my direction quietly chirped.