United States Nears 1,000th Execution

[deadparrot]

NEW YORK - "Let's do it." With those last words, convicted killer Gary Gilmore ushered in the modern era of capital punishment in the United States, an age of busy death chambers that will likely see its 1,000th execution in the coming days.

After a 10-year moratorium, Gilmore in 1977 became the first person to be executed following a 1976 U.S. Supreme Court decision that validated state laws to reform the capital punishment system. Since then, 997 prisoners have been executed, and next week, the 998th, 999th and 1,000th are scheduled to die.

Robin Lovitt, 41, will likely be the one to earn that macabre distinction next Wednesday, Nov. 30. He was convicted of fatally stabbing a man with scissors during a 1998 pool hall robbery in Virginia.

Ahead of Lovitt on death row are Eric Nance, scheduled to be executed Monday in Arkansas, and John Hicks, scheduled to be executed Tuesday in Ohio. Both executions appear likely to proceed.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051124/ap_on_re_us/1000_executions

[dtotire]

1. Test

just a test==sorry

[newyawker99]

8. Hi dtotire!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[roguevalley]

2. but we are a christian nation. I hate capital punishment.

[Briar]

6. Strange, isn't it

how such good Christians (as far as they are concerned) are so hot for capital punishment and war?

Thank goodness there are millions of Christians who oppose both. Now, if only they were as noisy as the barbaric monsters on the radio and at the President's ear.

(Edited to correct spelling.)

[onehandle]

3. We are in some Fine Company!

Countries with the most Executions in 2004

1
People's Republic of China
3,400+

2
Iran
159+

3
Vietnam
64+

4
USA
59

5
Saudi Arabia
33+

6
Pakistan
15+

7
Kuwait
9+

8
Bangladesh
7+

9
Egypt
6+

10
Singapore
6+

11
Yemen
6+

12
Belarus
5+

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment

[Chicago Democrat]

4. China executes 5000 people per year, mostly for Political Reasons!

Bad China!

[ismnotwasm]

5. How about sending those on death row to Florida

To Jebs new faith-based prisons?
Since jebbie is so supportive of it and all...

[pro_blue_guy]

7. Another milestone for the US

:-(

[reprobate]

9. And how many were truly innocent? Of 1000, likely over 300!

And Justice for all? Sure if you can afford a good lawyer.

[Straight Shooter]

10. bush is probably sad that he can no longer drink champagne.

I'm sure he would love to toast the 1,000th death by state-sanctioned execution, and is sorry that the 1,000 milestone was not part of his legacy in Texas.

I wonder if he'll make a speech about it, though, to his so-called pro-life base.