April 16, 2008
Watch Out, Texas -- Virginia Reinstates Death Penalty
Virginia Governor Tim Kaine (D) today ended a two-week moratorium on lethal injections after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the execution method did not violate constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment.
In early April Kaine announced that he was suspending all executions pending the court's decision, provoking criticism from Republicans in what is the second most death penalty-loving state in the union. But with the court's decision, announced earlier today, Kaine put executions back on track, while at the same time stating that he would consider clemency requests on a case by case basis.
The execution of Edward Nathaniel Bell, who was convicted of capital murder for the 1999 killing of a Winchester police officer, is now set for July 24. Kaine's moratorium earlier this month delayed the execution, which had been set for April 8.
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I think that's Windex in that syringe. Symbolic of Virginia getting ready to "clean house"???
no, that's too purple to be windex.
So potassium chloride now comes in New Grape Flavor? Sign me up!
Blast! Outted by my color-blindness yet again...
personally, i'd like to be lauched by trebuchet
Oh you didn't know? Windex comes in purple these days.
Hillrat, I thought it might be Kaboom!.
It might also be sizzurp.
wow, the gov. took a reasoned approach to things, and said he'd wait for the court to rule on this case....and executions were postponed a little bit.
will the repubs who were screaming bloody murder a few weeks ago because of his moratorium apologize now for sounding like shrieking monkeys (no offense to our esteemed colleague here)? i somehow doubt it...
see, i was thinking Dimetap.
touche on the purple windex. i don't know about you, but i don't want my mirrors and windows smelling like mountain berries. i prefer the regular scent.
Oklahoma executes the most per capita and Texas is second. But in sheer numbers Texas is first and VA is second. I am happy he reinstated it and kept his word.
Executions, by country, 2007
All countries that executed more than one person.
China: 470+
Iran: 317+
Saudi: 143+
Pakistan: 135+
USA: 42
Iraq: 33+
Vietnam: 25+
Yemen: 15+
Afghanistan: 15
Libya: 9+
Japan: 9
Syria: 7+
Sudan: 7+
Bangladesh: 6
Somalia: 5+
Equatorial Guinea: 3
Singapore: 2
As you can see, we're falling behind the Chinese. Which is bad, as the soul of a mass murderer can be harvested with a high powered soul gem for a value of 80,000 gold.
Capital punishment, like the rest of the criminal justice system, is a government program, so skepticism is in order.
--George Will
Data from: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ACT50/001/2008/en/b43a1e5a-ffea-11dc-b092-bdb020617d3d/act500012008eng.html
Also: Windex.