Hangman now sitting on Death Row

The inevitable but slow death of the proverbial Hangman can't come soon enough. The recent botched executions in Ohio and Oklahoma, where both bad guys died slowly and painfully, should give pause to every citizen lusting for state sponsored murder to satiate their blood lust. That, simply, is the only reason the death penalty still survives in 20 of 195 countries... and 32 of the 50 states in the fifth most prolific killer of its own citizens, the good ol' USA. Actually, only nine of those 20 unenlightened nations practice it with any regularity. In order of frequency they are China, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, USA, Yemen, Sudan, North Korea and Bangladesh. Those of you still rejoicing at every execution are in some pretty ignorant and hateful company.

Oddly enough it may be simple practicality that puts the Hangman in his own noose. Lethal injection is used in all 32 states still in the killing business due to the vulgarity of hanging or firing squad, and the enormous expense of both gas chambers and electric chairs. While lethal injection was both cheap and efficient, it's no longer either. Manufacturers of lethal drugs have stopped selling them to assist in state sponsored murders. Oklahoma screwed up last week's execution because they were experimenting with a home-made three drug cocktail that failed tragically.

We should use this development to remind every citizen and every political leader that there is no societal reason to add to our staggering annual murder count by individuals with a few dozen utterly senseless additional deaths under the color of law. It is a terrible way for a society to show its respect for life. It does not reduce heinous crime. It sometimes murders an innocent person. It makes vicarious murderers of us all whose tax dollars enable the killing. Each state sponsored murder diminishes our humanity. To all those who still support it, ask yourself which country you'll immigrate to when the last US state joins the vast majority of countries who've recognized and outlawed its barbarity.