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This Just In...
Kevin Fischer is an award-winning veteran broadcaster who has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for nearly three decades.
Kevin, who is a legislative aide to state Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin), can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, “INTERchange,” on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, in Franklin.
Cold-blooded murderers on death row claim lethal injections are cruel
By Kevin Fischer
Sunday, Jan 6 2008, 04:09 PM
Tomorrow, the U.S. Supreme Court will take up the case of whether potential errors in administering lethal injections to death row inmates constitute cruel and inhumane punishment.
Not surprisingly, two inmates on death row in Kentucky convicted of brutal, vicious, heinous crimes are asking the court to hear this case. They question the lethal injection used in Kentucky that calls for the administration of four drugs: Valium, which relaxes the convict, Sodium Pentathol, which knocks the convict unconscious, Pavulon, which stops his breathing, and potassium chloride, which essentially puts the convict into cardiac arrest and ultimately causes death.
Of the 38 states with the death penalty, 37 use lethal injection. Nebraska still uses the electric chair. Lethal injection was instituted in the late 1970’s as an alternative to the chair and gas chamber.
The New York Times reports lethal injections have become “troublesome.”
The paper says, “Leading medical organizations have told their members not to participate, and lawyers for death-row inmates have produced evidence showing that in the absence of expert medical attention, there is a substantial risk of error in administering the combination of anesthesia and paralyzing drugs necessary to bring about a quick and painless death.”
The inmates who were able to get their case heard before the Supreme Court are Ralph Baze and Thomas Bowling.
Let’s examine what these two convicted criminals did.
Regarding Ralph Baze, the USA TODAY reports:
Arthur Briscoe went to Baze's home, on a ridge off Little Hardwick Creek Road, on Jan. 30, 1992, to serve four warrants from Toledo, Ohio, according to 1992 news accounts.
The warrants stemmed from charges that included retaining stolen property and felony assault.
Baze acknowledges being agitated by Briscoe's visit, knowing that his wife's adult children — with whom he was feuding — had told the local authorities about the Ohio warrants.
Baze admits he was armed with a semi-automatic rifle, and pointed it at Briscoe as he came onto his property.
After that initial confrontation, Baze said he turned toward the cabin to leave and his wife saw Briscoe start to reach for his gun.
During a 1992 interview, Baze's wife Becky, who has since died, told The Courier-Journal that she grabbed the deputy's arm and yelled for her husband to run.
He did, and Briscoe got into his cruiser and went down a hill to call for backup.
That's when Bennett, who also was Briscoe's brother-in-law, responded.
Accounts differ on what happened next.
Baze said the lawmen returned to the ridge and began shooting after seeing him walk out from behind a brush pile to surrender. He claimed he was shot in the leg by their first shot and was forced to fire his own weapon.
"I grabbed my rifle and we go to war," Baze said. "These two men are trying to kill me."
But Deputy Robert Mathews, who was then a Stanton police officer and among the first on scene, said Bennett tried to talk Baze into putting down his weapon, but Baze started shooting.
Bennett was shot in the back as he tried to seek cover in the backseat of his police cruiser, Mathews said.
Baze doesn't dispute that.
"Only thing I know is these guys are shooting at me," Baze said. "I know the second he got rearranged he was going to try to kill me again. So I did not hesitate to shoot him."
Briscoe had moved behind the front of the cruiser, trying to shoot at Baze from a covered position.
"Every time he put his head above the car, I tried to put a bullet between his eyes," Baze said, adding that when he reached the front of the cruiser, Briscoe turned to run, while at the same time turning back to shoot.
"I shot him in the back," Baze said. "At that moment, it was the only shot I had at him."
As Briscoe lay on the ground, Baze said he walked up and shot him in the back of the head. Then he grabbed both officers' weapons and ran.
The other inmate involved in this case, Thomas Bowling in 1990 rammed the car of a couple. He got out and shot the couple and their young son as they sat inside their car. He then returned to his car, but walked back to the victims' car to make sure they were dead, and then drove away. The young son did survive.
In a case of incredible irony, Baze is now begging for leniency. This criminal who murdered two law enforcement officers, one in cold-blooded execution style, is now saying a needle in his arm is too cruel.
Click this link and scroll down to a video of interview clips with Baze and listen to how he says he should not have to suffer.
Here's another video with interview clips.
I concur with Ray Larson, a prosecutor and blogger in Kentucky who writes:
“Every now and then a newspaper story, editorial, or television report appears about some group attempting to keep some killer, who has been sentenced to death, from having to face execution.
The essence of these reports or opinions is that because the killer had a hard life or sad childhood, he shouldn’t have to pay the ultimate price for slaying an innocent human being. Over and over we are told by these writers, reporters and other anti-death penalty activists that a grim upbringing somehow excuses a vicious and brutal murder. They tell us that if we don't feel compassion for these condemned killers, we are not as righteous as they are.
We never hear one word on behalf of the innocent victims of these killers; only that we should show sympathy and understanding for the killer. Where is the compassion for the victim’s family and friends whose lives have been permanently shattered by the murderer?"
Supreme Court of Kentucky records say, “Baze and Bowling have not demonstrated by a preponderance of evidence that the method of execution by lethal injection in Kentucky inflicts unnecessary physical pain. Evidence was considered that other drugs were available that may decrease the possibility of pain but the constitutional provisions do not provide protection against all pain, only cruel and unusual punishment. Although alleged that there are other drugs which may further assure the condemned person feels no pain, there is no requirement to select the least severe penalty so long as the penalty is not cruel or unusual. It has not been demonstrated by a preponderance of the evidence that the method of execution in Kentucky by lethal injection inflicts unnecessary psychological suffering.”
This is a major case with major ramifications.
Quite frankly, if criminals like Baze and Bowling do suffer some pain while the lethal injection is being administered, I have no problem with that.
And if lethal injections are tossed out, remember the death penalty is constitutional.
Seriously, how are we then supposed to execute people on death row?
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