I’m no supporter of the death penalty, especially in cases such as that of Christa Pike, who is due to die tomorrow.
Ok, in her case, she carried out an absolutely horrible crime, killing a ‘friend’ in a disgusting way. Many of the prisoners on Death Row in US jails have been there for an incredible number of years. In Christa’s case, the truly appalling killing was carried out back in 1995 when she was 18. However, as bad as the crime was, it happened back in 1995 when Christa was 18. So for the past 30 years, she’s sat on Death Row, waiting to die. The 8th Amendment of the US Constitution, for all its faults, forbids cruel and unusual punishments, and if keeping someone waiting for death for 30 years isn’t both cruel *and* unusual.
Surely, if you are intent on killing someone just *do* it. Why draw out the legal processes of the appeals system for decades before carrying it out? What benefit to anyone is there on exyending the process for so long?
I don’t know what is! If you are going to kill someone, just **do it**; don’t keep them on the verge of death for so long. I suppose you *could* say that the extended legal shenanigans are a form of punishment in itself, but then we’re back to the “cruel and unusual” definition. I don’t know of any other system of justice that would allow a punishment so bloody awful!!
(For more on the 8th Amendment, see https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/amendments/amendment-viii/clauses/103)
