The wife and I were discussing this yesterday.

What rather amazes us is the rather hypocritical handwringing going on over with America regarding "humane" executions. What the bloody hell does it matter how you kill them? At the end of the day, they are being killed, a barbaric act in itself, surely?

I should add that neither of us favours the death penalty, but my wife did make a good point, I believe. That is, the chap who was (eventually) killed showed his victims no mercy whatsoever. Therefore, a killing exacted in revenge, in the name of justice, should surely be as wicked and cruel as the act perpetrated. The reason, btw, for our opposition is the fact that one innocent life being taken does not justify hundreds of bloodthirsty, murdering b*****ds being removed from our presence. Our opposition does not come from liberal handwringing, hypocritical or otherwise.

It is fair to say that America's record on this is hardly exemplary. In fact, it is a disgrace.

The death penalty is a lousy deterrent. If it worked, no one would be executed! The proponents of the death penalty know this, and they are being extremely hypocritical when they defend it in this way. Far better to be more honest, and state that they favour it as a way of punishing the most heinous crimes and that the prisoner deserves such a date. You might not agree with it, but at least it would be honest.

The families of the victims, btw, would probably point out to you that they too, are victims of the crime perpetrated, i.e. The family of a loved one murdered or raped. They would argue that it is right the family of the executed prisoner suffer in the way they suffer.

I also despair at the length of time the wretches spend on death row over in the USA, awaiting their "day". That strikes me as being almost as cruel as the execution itself.

This is nothing compared to what happens when real hooligans confront each other....

Disgusting. Slavery under a different name.