Can death penalty be humane?

Lots of mail on capital punishment. This came in from a retired police officer:

“I too have doubts about the death penalty, but polls reveal that some 56 percent of Americans support it. Their views cannot be ignored. Some say that it has not been shown that the death penalty makes us any safer. I would counter that it has not been shown that it makes us any less safe. Common sense tells us it makes us safer from the individuals being put to death. These people can endanger others even from inside prisons.

“Part of the issue with the death penalty as we express it in the United States is that we attempt to make it overly humane. Exercising the death penalty is not humane and never will be. It is the killing of another human being and it is hypocritical to attempt it with doctors, nurses, etc. We need to start using methods that are fast, reliable and foolproof. If hanging was good enough for Saddam Hussein, it’s good enough for common criminals.”

Your turn. Email rrollins@coxohio.com.

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