Emma Myers- Supreme Court Closely Divides On 'Cruel And Unusual' Death Penalty Case

LINKKKK

This is a controversial subject inside of another-- The Supreme Court has decided that a man with a medical condition that would make the lethal injection "cruel and unusual punishment"  is not allowed another method. The inmate, Russell Bucklew, had been on death row for more than 20 years, and was required to have a "timely enforcement" of the penalty. Bucklew's argument was to use nitrogen gas- a method that 3 states have already OK-ed as alternatives. But, the other argument made by the Supreme Ct. was that obeying the constitution was more important than making sure the execution is on time.

The article is written strictly in facts, which is what I personally like about NPR. The author(s) aren't visibly biased about the issue, nor are they trying to persuade the audience. The article certainly produces some conflict- weather the reader agrees or disagrees with the Supreme Court, or even the idea of the death penalty on its own (although the article didn't focus much on that, there is still plenty of debate.) I think that, since the prisoner is going to die anyway, why not let them choose what way they prefer? Especially if the medical condition affects the way they go-- if it means a few more days, why not just do the humane thing and spare them the torture. Again: They will die either way.