"Humane" vs. "Pain" Jimmie L. Coombes, President TCADP

While doing research on the origin of the drug « formula » used in lethal injection executions in the United States, I came across this interesting statement : ‘The representative who introduced the bill (specifying lethal injection for Texas executions) into the Texas House said, for example, that electrocution “is a very scary thing to see” and that he “voted for a more humane treatment because death is pretty final. That’s enough of a penalty”.’ (emphasis added).

I have always believed that “humane” is one of those adjectives like “pregnant” or “dead”. You can’t be more or less of any of them. You either are or not. Yet, the reporter above stated that the representative wanted “a more humane” way to kill someone than electrocuting them. I find that idea incomprehensible.

Certainly, there has been a long societal evolution in the English speaking world away from more painful and towards less painful methods of state homicide. Hanging, Drawing and Quartering was certainly more painful than axe-beheading and hanging alone. Perhaps the electric chair and the gas chamber were less painful than the noose or the firing squad. Many people apparently believe that lethal injection is less painful than the gas chamber or electric chair. But more humane? I, for one, am not buying it.

Perhaps I am locked into a mindset that is far out of the mainstream, but in my world the word “more” cannot modify “humane”. Further, in my world, killing a human being for any purpose (including the much-vaunted “good war”) can never be considered humane. If a human being kills another human being, the act can be characterized in many ways. It may be self-defense. It may in some legal sense be called justified. It may be accidental. It may be done by a “good soldier” in a “good war”. But it can in no case be characterized as humane. It is homicide, pure and simple, and the state should not hide behind the word “HUMANE” when it orders homicide committed on one of its citizens.

Whatever else happens in the affairs of men, the death penalty must be abolished – (with apologies to Cato the Elder)

D.R.I.V.E.

DEATH Row INNER-COMMUNALIST VANGUARD ENGAGEMENT