Brother of man executed by Utah firing squad calls it brutal

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Brother of man executed by Utah firing squad calls it brutal
By BRADY McCOMBS and LINDSAY WHITEHURST, Associated Press | March 12, 2015 | Updated: March 12, 2015 5:21pm

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Randy Gardner still struggles four years later to talk about seeing his brother's bullet-riddled body at the mortuary after he was executed.

Ronnie Lee Gardner was the last person to die by firing squad in Utah — a method state lawmakers voted this week to reinstate, illustrating frustrations across the U.S. over bungled executions and shortages of lethal-injection drugs.

Randy Gardner made it clear Wednesday he did not condone what his brother did — first killing a bartender and later shooting a lawyer to death and wounding a bailiff during a courthouse escape attempt.

But he said the firing squad is brutal.

"When you take somebody and you tie them to a chair, put a hood over their head, and you shoot them from 25 feet with four rifles pointed at their heart, that's pretty barbaric."


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/medical/article/Frustration-pushes-Utah-toward-renewed-use-of-6129555.php

[yourout]

1. Wonder how long before they try to bring back the guillotine?

[corkhead]

35. Or this...

[Myrina]

56. ... as long as they park it on Wall Street and start with those criminals, I'm ok with it.

n/t

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

58. If I had a choice I go with the guillotine. Much faster, and probably relatively painless.

[krispos42]

2. Given the choice, I'd pick firing squad over lethal injection

or The Chair.

For fast shots in my chest from powerful rifles? By the time I was over the shock of the impact, I'd be dead.


A ring of C4 around the neck would be even better.

[Lancero]

6. That's what is, perhaps, the most ironic thing about 'humane' executions.

Lethal injection was put foward as a civilized, more humane, form of execution over the firing squad.

Now the same people are out calling lethal injection inhumane - the very practice they once supported over firing squads.

I have to wonder - Seeing how lethal injections now work, would these people in the past have still pushed it as the humane alternative?

[Major Nikon]

14. "humane execution" is an oxymoron

There is no such thing

[Judi Lynn]

33. Exactly. n/t

[Tom Ripley]

50. +1000

[hatrack]

17. At least a firing squad or a noose is an honest method of execution

It's not farcically tarted up in medical garb.

Which always made me wonder if they swab the IV site when preparing a lethal injection.

[yurbud]

24. Our methods are humane for the audience

Not the person being executed

[Nye Bevan]

45. They do swab it.

Just in case a reprieve comes through after the drip is inserted but before the chemicals go in.

[tblue37]

37. Lethal injection was used because it was more comfortable for the executioners

and the witnesses. Americans freak out over beheadings and firing squads because those methods *look* so brutal and are so *obviously* killing someone, whereas lethal injection *looks* quieter, more "peaceful," even though death takes longer and suffering is probably more pronounced (paralysis, suffocation, convulsions).

The whole point of lethal injection is to allow executioners and onlookers to feel comfortable about being involved in killing a human being.

[geek tragedy]

54. people confuse "humane" with the absence of blood spatter nt

[Thor_MN]

13. Not four.

Most likely three. One or more rifles is loaded with a blank round to give the people pulling the triggers the illusion that they may not have fired the fatal shot.

[Blue_Tires]

57. +1

I wouldn't want to have to "wait" for death, even if it was a minute or two...

[Fred Sanders]

3. The inhuman and indecent physical violation of the human body is why this is.....inhuman.

How can any Christisn justify this in His name? These folks are a cult on par with the House of Saudi religious cult.

Why not just burn them in a cage and video tape it?

[Lancero]

11. See, this is what I really, really, love about anti-dpers.

They go on a moral rant about how supporters of the death penalty are inhumane monsters who worship satan, and they finish the rant by suggesting some of the most painful methods imaginable.

[Fred Sanders]

12. We all get where you are coming from sir, and we are all very amused. Enjoyed the chuckle.

No more kicking the thread, it is all rather boring now.

Welcome to Full Ignore, customer #30.

[snooper2]

55. ROFLAMO

FULL IGNORE!

FYI, the guillotine is the way to go-----



When you get bored Fred Randel Sanders the 5th please search for this on YouTube...fairly good quality video considering

Last public execution by Guillotine

[hatrack]

18. Especially for you . . . .

[rpannier]

20. This what I really love about pro-dpers

They miss the point entirely

[Lancero]

26. I got his point.

People who support the death penalty are the same as terrorists.

Ah well, moot point anyway.

[rpannier]

28. Reread the poster you were referring to

I need to work on my own reading skills more
You are most correct... I apologize
You are correct, he did equate pro- death penalty people with terrorists

Again... I apologize

on edit: I would remove my post challenging you, but it would be cowardly to do so and unfair to your reply to mine

[Lancero]

30. Eh, tis fine. I realize that this is a rather... touchy subject

And that people are going to have widely differing opinions.

If someone wants to call me on my stance, I'm fine with that - I'm not going to rush off and hit ignore at the first sign of someone disagreeing with me.

[NuclearDem]

23. Clearly the point of his post has escaped you.

[Lancero]

25. Nah, I get his point.

People who support the death penalty are a cult, on par with terrorists. (Ref, here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wahhabism. Link is the House of Saud)

It's a bit of a moot point really - Freddy is a bit thin skined, he gets kicks out of comparing people to terrorists but gets highly offended when someone calls him out on his bs.

[LanternWaste]

47. I suppose it's convenient for the lazy mind to pretend one premise applies to the entire-demographic

I suppose it's convenient for the lazy mind to pretend one faulty premise applies to the entire-demographic.

That's what I "really, really love" about idiots...

[Judi Lynn]

34. The "Christians" who support violence toward others betray their religion.

There is no safety in numbers by claiming lotsa other "Christians" support evil, too. At some point they are all still going to have to face their own consciences.

Indeed, how do they hold themselves as morally superior in their own way of committing soulless atrocities?

[Lancero]

4. Yes, shooting someone to death is very brutal - I forget, what did your brother do?

Pot, meet kettle.

[Fred Sanders]

5. So, you approve of death by violence by government? Justice versus revenge, know the difference?

And your use of the "pot" phrase is done totally wrong.

[Lancero]

8. How big is our military again?

[groundloop]

7. Killing is wrong.... period.... no matter who is doing the killing

That particular commandment says "thou shalt not kill", not "thou shalt not kill except when....".

[Lancero]

9. The bible says a lot of things.

So be careful when saying it should serve as guidance.

[rpannier]

19. If you're a Christian then Jesus' words trump all

And he was prety clear on forgiveness, yet makes no reference to supporting murder... by anyone

[Lancero]

22. Can you point out where I said I was a christian?

[Bluenorthwest]

10. The book with that commandment in it proscribes the death penalty for many, many things such as

being a bratty child, eating a cheeseburger, being gay, wearing blended fabrics, getting the wrong haircut, it goes on and on. The Bible favors the death penalty and thus is a bad citation when arguing against it.

[rpannier]

21. Actually it isn't if you're a Christian

Nowhere does Jesus say anything about it being okay to kill someone
But, he does speak of forgiving 70x7

[Thor_MN]

36. Yes, but many "Christians" get off on the OT and ignore Jesus....

[LeftyMom]

39. He also says that he's not abolishing existing law.

For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished

I swear, liberal Christians suck at actually reading the bible, instead pretending it says what they want it to say. I'm an atheist because I know that ridiculous shit backward and forward.

[rpannier]

40. Disagree

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you, don't resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and don't turn away him who desires to borrow from you.

Matthew 5:38-42

Number 2
Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

I could make a snarky, pain-in-the-ass comment trying to belittle someone whom I disagree with, but I will refrain from stooping to that level. Because by doing so, I would be violating Jesus' commandment on Loving they neighbor.

Have a blessed day

[LeftyMom]

46. While I agree that the whole thing is a contradictory mess in desparate need of editing

the first cited passage is an explicit instruction to followers who run the risk of being stamped out by an oppressive state and must charm rather than threaten Rome.

The second is pablum but is not explicitly contradictory but rather bad summary. Reading it as a statement eliminating the law is a tortured read and still requires ignoring clearer and more explicit passages which say the opposite.

The statement about the law is explicit and is not contradicted by Jesus, but is later by Paul. The move to Pauline, convert-friendly Christianity is brilliant marketing but can't be hung on the words ascribed to Jesus.

As for snark, Jesus was not immune. The bit you cited about the coat and cloak? In a two garment society that's a dirty joke.

[Sparhawk60]

43. Forgiveness

Forgiveness and love every one, are the two main points Jesus tried to make. To often people forget that Jesus never said 'love every one...but them folks over there".

[LeftyMom]

51. No, he explicitly says you must hate your family and yourself

or you can not be his disciple. Luke 14, right after the instructions on impressing people with false humility. You should read it in context for full effect.

Again, I wonder what book you're reading.

[Joe Chi Minh]

32. Execution and murder

Last edited Fri Mar 13, 2015, 09:10 AM - Edit history (1)

No. The Commandment is: Thou shalt not murder. Execution was part of the Mosaic Law, to which Jesus was subjected - although crucifixion was not legal, so was arranged with Pilate.

I've been reading about the torturing personally perpetrated by Klaus Barbie, the 'Butcher of Lyon'. Execution, a swift death by any means, would have been dearly coveted by his victims. He used to boast that it was he who devised the strategy for murdering Che Guevara.

Jean Moulin had tried unsuccessfully to kill himself, before being sprung and taken to England. He bravely returned, was betrayed and again tortured - beyond belief. He couldn't talk, he'd been so badly battered, so he was given a pencil and paper to write some info Barbie wanted. He drew a caricature of his torturer and got more battering, before being sent to a concentration camp, where he finally died! The writer Malraux wrote a famous, epic obituary. You can find it on Google.

I forgot to add, the US and British Intelligence, with their passion for recruiting the worst monsters of the Nazi regime, helped Barbie to escape to Bolivia, where he lived for a number of years, but with a regime change there, he was extradited to France to face a trial. He was sentenced to life imprisonment. This, mark you, a creature whose torturing was so extreme his victims would have seen execution as a blessing.

And by the way, there is plenty of historical evidence that the death penalty does act as a deterrent. Also, in Britain, the fact that convicted murderers preferred to be placed in a secure mental institution for the rest of the lives is surely further testimony.

There is one massive drawback to countenancing the death penalty, and that is that the people charged with the administration of justice and those framing the laws tend to be among the most worldly and least sensitive to the moral law. Consequently, people are wrongly convicted, some in the US, even railroaded. There is also the question of what it does to the souls of the executioners, which might not be too agreeable to begin with.

[LanternWaste]

49. It seems many half-wits tolerate that brutality begets more brutality...

It seems many half-wits tolerate that brutality begets more brutality...

[Lancero]

52. So DP supporters are half-wits now?

Meh, I suppose that'd a bit better then Fred's label of them being Terrorists.

[George II]

15. They're so eager in Utah to kill that they have to have a backup in case their primary method...

...isn't available. How disgusting is that?

[jmowreader]

38. They're not THAT eager in Utah to kill

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_death_row_inmates#Utah

Total number of death row inmates: 9
Total number of inmates who have been executed since 1800: 49

[msongs]

16. so remind me who runs Utah again? nt

[Ilsa]

27. Mormons are into "Blood Atonement" for religious

Reasons. If a murderer spilt blood in murdering someone, then their own blood must be spilled to get into heaven.

[840high]

29. This was not humane.

Randy Gardner made it clear Wednesday he did not condone what his brother did — first killing a bartender and later shooting a lawyer to death and wounding a bailiff during a courthouse escape attempt.

[Spider_Mann]

41. He killed two people

I don't care.

[raccoon]

42. And many Americans think beheading is barbaric? I can't get

such convoluted logic.

[sendero]

44. I would suggest...

.. that folks read the wikipedia page on Ronnie Lee Gardner. He was given the choice between firing squad and lethal injection, and he chose firing squad.

[Tom Ripley]

48. I've never understood the use of the chair in firing squads...

gas chambers, and electrocutions.
Is it some strange concession to comfort?

[Nitram]

53. I propose four horses...

....each tied to one limb and sent to gallop in 4 different directions. At least that's how I'd like war criminal Dick Cheney to go.

[One_Life_To_Give]

59. With accident victims we usually hope it was quick

Ruptured Aorta's I am told are very quick, therefor we believe the victim didn't suffer for long. As opposed to the victim who may survive for some minutes before expiring or longer. When hearing of somebody beaten to death part of the horror is that they probably lived thru much pain before expiring. Somehow the state of the body and ease with which the Mortician can Embalm it does not factor into my view of what is brutal or not.