My Execution: Seen through the Killer’s Eyes

[Chris's_Sister]

Thought this needed to be posted here, maybe it could be posted as a sticky because I don't think it will ever be irrelevent.

http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/1...2%80%99s-eyes/

[whisky 23]

thankyou so much for posting that.it was a very interesting read and very hard to read what they put these guys through.

[JJS811]

Many people will say the victim had no last visit, no last phone call, no second chance. Does that mean we as a species, have to play copy-cat? I can't imaging the terror, these guys face, knowing the end is near, with the push of a plunger. The report made very chilling reading!

[joetnymedic]

Yes, the victims didn't get anything, I agree on that, but, you need to look at the whole picture. Coming so close to death, this guy realized that a)nothing material mattered and b0 he was going to have to answer to God. I think that says something, especially the fact that he was not afraid of death, but afraid of what was to come after death. It's obvious, that while he may have regreted what he did to wind up there, coming that close made him realize fully the results of his actions. You can't doubt that. He wasn't making light of the new clothes, the new sheets, the "goodies" they all came into play here. And I am sorry, while I don't support the death penalty in every case, there are times when I do, but in either case, no matter how bad their crime these guys are still living human beings. Should some be put to death, yes, but I truely think doing it in the most humane way like we are doing it, is appropriate. If someone commits and extremely violent act that results in anothers death and you cause their death, by all means an eye for an eye like the bible says, however to be cruel in doing it, reduces us to the same level as the individual we are killing and that is where the line needs to be drawn. Some of you won't agree with me, but I'm sorry that's just the way I feel.
And you know something else, being a paramedic and an EMT for 20+ years, there were people who lived in my hands and people who died. Even the ones I couldn't save, I tried to let them know they weren't alone and hoped and prayed for them, not right then and there, but I think everyone knows where I'm going. I had an inmate from Sing Sing and a woman from Bedford Hills die on me and you know what, the fact that they were an inmate didn't lessen the fact that they died on me. When I became involved in both EMS and Fire Service, I stopped seeing race, sex, religion, the works. If someone died while I was working on them and I couldn't bring them back, does that make me a murderer? Should I have been charged? Did I try harder on some and less on others? Fact is no, I gave my all on every call. I tried my hardest on the 100 (yes 100, actually 104) year old lady as I did on the 9 month old who's mother left her unattended in a bath tub (the mother got probation and birth control for that time). God has a plan for everyone in this world and sometimes it just is not fair whatsoever. I can tell you all this much, while I have never pumped lethal drugs into an inmate, I can assure you that those who do, probably feel close to what I did everytime I lost a patient. Let me tell you all the two extremes of my job as I experienced them both. The greatest feeling is bringing a newborn baby into this world, the worst feeling is having a newborn die on you. While I have to live with the lives I've lost, the guys that give an inmate the needle, have to live with that also, and you'd be suprised how many try or do take their own lives later. So it doesn't stop at the execution. There is an effect felt afterwards. That is what you don't see.

[JJS811]

Originally Posted by joetnymedic

Yes, the victims didn't get anything, I agree on that, but, you need to look at the whole picture. Coming so close to death, this guy realized that a)nothing material mattered and b0 he was going to have to answer to God. I think that says something, especially the fact that he was not afraid of death, but afraid of what was to come after death. It's obvious, that while he may have regreted what he did to wind up there, coming that close made him realize fully the results of his actions. You can't doubt that. He wasn't making light of the new clothes, the new sheets, the "goodies" they all came into play here. And I am sorry, while I don't support the death penalty in every case, there are times when I do, but in either case, no matter how bad their crime these guys are still living human beings. Should some be put to death, yes, but I truely think doing it in the most humane way like we are doing it, is appropriate. If someone commits and extremely violent act that results in anothers death and you cause their death, by all means an eye for an eye like the bible says, however to be cruel in doing it, reduces us to the same level as the individual we are killing and that is where the line needs to be drawn. Some of you won't agree with me, but I'm sorry that's just the way I feel.
And you know something else, being a paramedic and an EMT for 20+ years, there were people who lived in my hands and people who died. Even the ones I couldn't save, I tried to let them know they weren't alone and hoped and prayed for them, not right then and there, but I think everyone knows where I'm going. I had an inmate from Sing Sing and a woman from Bedford Hills die on me and you know what, the fact that they were an inmate didn't lessen the fact that they died on me. When I became involved in both EMS and Fire Service, I stopped seeing race, sex, religion, the works. If someone died while I was working on them and I couldn't bring them back, does that make me a murderer? Should I have been charged? Did I try harder on some and less on others? Fact is no, I gave my all on every call. I tried my hardest on the 100 (yes 100, actually 104) year old lady as I did on the 9 month old who's mother left her unattended in a bath tub (the mother got probation and birth control for that time). God has a plan for everyone in this world and sometimes it just is not fair whatsoever. I can tell you all this much, while I have never pumped lethal drugs into an inmate, I can assure you that those who do, probably feel close to what I did everytime I lost a patient. Let me tell you all the two extremes of my job as I experienced them both. The greatest feeling is bringing a newborn baby into this world, the worst feeling is having a newborn die on you. While I have to live with the lives I've lost, the guys that give an inmate the needle, have to live with that also, and you'd be suprised how many try or do take their own lives later. So it doesn't stop at the execution. There is an effect felt afterwards. That is what you don't see.

I was not suggesting he was making light of new clothes etc, rather looking at the irony of the whole process. I do not believe in the DP at all. Death is too final, and we as humans have no right to kill another human. Yes, he killed, he had no right to do that, however two wrongs don't make a right!

I applaud your career choice, and thank people like you from the bottom of my heart, and I don't doubt for a minute professionalism over ran all feelings of race, colour, social status, age etc, but no one has the monopoly on humanity. I would like to think that I would be classed as a humanitarian, even though I don't work in the medical profession.

This report gives a birds eye view of the DP from a man who came as close as one can, without the actual end result, that made me go cold. I personally can't imagine anyone reading that would not feel the same, but I know it isn't the case. There are many who would gladly "push the plunger". Many will not look at the possibility people can and do change, and deeply regret their actions. Ok, regretting your action will not bring the victim back, but neither will killing the inmate!

IMO the death penalty is NEVER right, it is not the answer, it encourages the circle of violence, by allowing people to believe one act of violence will result in another, and the cycle continues, and when the violence is state sanctioned, the citizens feel they have free range to continue the example shown to them by the legislators, and people in power!

An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind!

[joetnymedic]

I'm sorry if I came off rude in my post. I didn't mean to. I realize he changed, and I am not saying it was too late for that, maybe his sentence would get commuted. I am not 100% pro death penalty by any means. I think it should only be applied in the most extreme cases. The other thing is defining an extreme case. As humans we have many emotions which cloud our judgement and what may be extreme to some, may not be to others. What I think I failed to mention in my prior post, was that I am an ex-offender. nothing serious, but I did time. I was able to change so I know others are too. I am living proof of that. I think when someone gets the death penalty, all of the appeals are just ridiculous. Not because they have the death penalty and the automatic appeal process, but because it would cost less to just house them for the rest of their life and let them deal with what they did on a daily basis. I know it seems like I am teetering on the edge or unsure, but I'm really not. And God knows I am not the person to judge anyone here on this earth. The only person who can do that isn't on this earth by any means. That's why when we die we see him. My God, may not be your God or someone elses God as there are many Gods, but one in my opinion. We just choose to call him by different names. I am a christian, but by all means I respect my brothers God too. If that makes sense. I think most of us will agree that at death, there is some type of judgement. I also believe that if you cause pain in life, you get that pain back in death, but on the same time, my God is merciful. I am not here to preach though so I am not going to go off in that direction. While I have seen things in my life that I hope nobody else would have to see, I know there is a reason for it. As for this gentleman, yes I called him a gentleman for those of you who disagree, he is still a human being no matter what he did. He came right to the line. Right up until mere hours before he was set to die and I believe that yes, he did change at the end, God knows how many other death row inmates accepted what they did was wrong at the very end and while maybe not out loud asked God for his mercy. I believe that it was this guys brush with death that made him open his eyes. Sorry if I rambled but this is just what I think, and it is my opinion and may not be the opinion of others here. And while some may not agree with my opinion, that is your right as a fellow human being and I respect your opinion also.

[JJS811]

Originally Posted by joetnymedic

I'm sorry if I came off rude in my post. I didn't mean to. I realize he changed, and I am not saying it was too late for that, maybe his sentence would get commuted. I am not 100% pro death penalty by any means. I think it should only be applied in the most extreme cases. The other thing is defining an extreme case. As humans we have many emotions which cloud our judgement and what may be extreme to some, may not be to others. What I think I failed to mention in my prior post, was that I am an ex-offender. nothing serious, but I did time. I was able to change so I know others are too. I am living proof of that. I think when someone gets the death penalty, all of the appeals are just ridiculous. Not because they have the death penalty and the automatic appeal process, but because it would cost less to just house them for the rest of their life and let them deal with what they did on a daily basis. I know it seems like I am teetering on the edge or unsure, but I'm really not. And God knows I am not the person to judge anyone here on this earth. The only person who can do that isn't on this earth by any means. That's why when we die we see him. My God, may not be your God or someone elses God as there are many Gods, but one in my opinion. We just choose to call him by different names. I am a christian, but by all means I respect my brothers God too. If that makes sense. I think most of us will agree that at death, there is some type of judgement. I also believe that if you cause pain in life, you get that pain back in death, but on the same time, my God is merciful. I am not here to preach though so I am not going to go off in that direction. While I have seen things in my life that I hope nobody else would have to see, I know there is a reason for it. As for this gentleman, yes I called him a gentleman for those of you who disagree, he is still a human being no matter what he did. He came right to the line. Right up until mere hours before he was set to die and I believe that yes, he did change at the end, God knows how many other death row inmates accepted what they did was wrong at the very end and while maybe not out loud asked God for his mercy. I believe that it was this guys brush with death that made him open his eyes. Sorry if I rambled but this is just what I think, and it is my opinion and may not be the opinion of others here. And while some may not agree with my opinion, that is your right as a fellow human being and I respect your opinion also.

Thank you for the clarification. Yes your right, we all are entitled to our own opinion. All views are equally valid, even if they don't tally with my own. Only by differing views, do we appreciate others, and become a more tolerant society. I take my hat off to you for mentioning your an ex offender, your honesty and insight is much appreciated - Thank you!

[Karon]

So sad

[StephBee]

I think the worst part about this whole article is the comments people left critisizing the writer for not talking about the victim more. That wasn't the point and I'm amazed and how blind some people can be. He did a bad thing, an (in my opinion) unforgivable thing but no one, not even a cold blooded sadistic murderer (not saying Moreno is such a person, but they do exist) should have to go through that.

I'm just truely disgusted by how people reacted to this. I guess I'll never understand how they can dehumanize someone to such an extent as to say "lock him up in a cell and stop feeding him, let him starve like the animal he is."

People spend so much time just being angry at these men for what they've done that they don't see the human anymore.
People ashame me.

[jeff123]

"You know, the only way to make the death penalty, not cruel and unusual, is to tell the man you are letting him go, and as he is walking out the front gate shoot him in the back of the head"

Chief Bill Gillespie, Sparta Police Department, Sparta Mississippi (Upon witnessing an execution for the first time)

[indanameofghost]

wow that's really well told! lucky guy he got a stay then...but how long did the stay last?
is he still alive?i can't seem to find his name anywhere :s

[BLoved]

Look further........... he had his sentence commuted.