Thou shalt not kill. Which is why at least since biblical times there have been precautions taken to see that blood feuds don't go on forever. How? By leaving such a fateful decision in the hands of the state, trusting it will not abuse it.
Mary Broadaway, a state representative from Paragould, understands. She's been persistent in her efforts to stamp out cruel and inhumane capital punishment by opposing it in every way possible. Now she's concentrating just on the method used, proposing a study to find "the least painful" way to kill if the state insists on killing. For if she can't prevent the state from bloodying its hands, she'll try to outflank the opposition by raising side issues. Like how to do the deed.
This is much the way a Republican named Abraham Lincoln fought against another barbaric institution--human slavery. Gradually but persistently, raising every technical objection to it even if he couldn't wipe it out at a single stroke. Mr. Lincoln understood that, with public opinion on his side, he could prevail. But without it, he was bound to fail.
"If we want to stick our heads in the sand," says Representative Broadaway, "and we don't want to look at anything until we are proven that [the current method of execution] is an unconstitutional method which is simply preventing us from implementing our death penalty ... . I think we're being very short-sighted." In addition to being unnecessarily cruel.
Laurie Rushing, a state representative from Hot Springs, isn't bothered by such considerations. Hers is the spirit of blind vengeance impure and simple: "If you've ever had a child that was murdered," she says, "have you ever had a child that was raped, have you ever had a child that was left out, just left out to suffer? If you have, then you would understand why even if it's in the least humane way, and this way may be more humane, but we have people right now that have done those crimes that need to be punished instead of wasting taxpayer money." But her syntax is as dubious as the rest of her case for personal, bloody-minded revenge.
Which is why some people are kept off juries--because they're likely to be prejudiced in such cases, and how could they not be?
Winthrop Rockefeller never did a better day's work as governor, and he had plenty of admirable days, than when he commuted every death sentence then in effect in the state, setting a humane example that needs to be followed now. And forever. For what could be more barbaric than sentencing a convict to arise each morning knowing he must live out an indeterminate sentence, his execution perpetually put on hold with appeals and counter-appeals and counter-counter appeals?
No wonder there hasn't been a death sentence carried out in Arkansas for more than a decade. Why not avoid all these legalistic complications by just avoiding the death sentence? And have done with all these maneuvers. And finally, finally, where the death penalty is concerned, conclude this story with the most welcome of words--The End.
Editorial on 10/13/2016