Texas still No. 1 in executions in 2004 but death sentences abate

[rainbow4321]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D873N1F00.html

While Texas remained the nation's most active state carrying out the death penalty, the state's total was down from a year ago and about average for the past decade. Texas' overall total grew to 336 since executions resumed in 1982.

I think there's a national trend toward greater scrutiny of the death penalty," said Jordan Steiker, a University of Texas Law School professor. "One thing that obviously affects both juries and prosecutors is an increasing sensibility that the Supreme Court is looking over their shoulder at the American death penalty."

Early this year, the Supreme Court overturned two Texas death sentences — for LaRoyce Lathair Smith and Robert Tennard — because jurors were not told of the defendants' learning disabilities. The court also lifted the death sentence of Delma Banks, condemned nearly 25 years ago, and criticized Texas officials and lower courts, saying prosecutors hid crucial information that might have helped Banks' case.


At the state court level, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, considered by capital punishment opponents a rubber stamp for death sentences, ordered three men removed from death row because the prisoners are mentally retarded and ineligible for execution under a recent Supreme Court ruling. At least nine executions already are scheduled for 2005, including four in January.

[TwentyFive]

1. Texas - 1940's

being a communist was a capital offense.

But if you were a member of the kkk, that was ok. The kkk was considered just like a volunteer police force. They even carried out their own executions - with a rope and pick-up truck.

Today, the Texas justice system effectively does the same thing.

[Dark Secret]

2. Texas is also the Horse Slaughter for Human Consumption State

Texas permits two Belgian owned and operated equine slaughter houses to butcher tens of thousands of domesticated US horses whose meat is then air freighted to Europe. An untold number are stolen family pets.

These equine killing fields are located in Fort Worth and Kaufman. The rape of American resources right on our own territory.

Several bills in the Congress to criminalize equine transport for slaughter (in the manner of California) have languished for months.

So much for the value of life and property. Anything for a dollar. Fuck the bastards. I hope they burn in Hell.

[Jack_DeLeon]

5. So...

what exactly is wrong with eating horse meat?

Not that I have ever eaten it but I dont see anything inherintly wrong if people choose to eat it. Its meat like anything else. No different than dog, cat, or cattle.

[Bono71]

8. What's wrong with horse meat? As long as it isn't someone's

stolen pet, sounds like good old fashioned agriculture to me.

[Lefty48197]

3. Funny how Texas was about to release mass murderer Coral Eugene Watts

before the Michigan judicial system had to step in and convict him of a couple of those murders and put him away for life.

[stevebreeze]

4. if capital punishment worked TX would be the safest state in the US

It's not. It doesn't.

That should be enough to end the death penalty but there are far many more concerns. Cost 3 times as much to kill as imprison for life. It is potentially emotionally disastrous for the Judge, Jury, and most for the guards that have to carry out the execution. Just for starters

[caligirl]

6. Executed the mentally retarded/ Retards themselves

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.