Fox News reported that the Department of Justice (DoJ) has announced it is directing the Federal Bureau of Prisons to “adopt a proposed addendum to the Federal Execution Protocol.” This will make it possible for the U.S. government to resume capital punishment.
The federal government will restart carrying out death penalty sentences, commencing in December 2019. The feds have five death-row inmates scheduled for execution, according to Attorney General Bill Barr. He said, “Congress has expressly authorized the death penalty through legislation adopted by the people’s representatives in both houses of Congress and signed by the President.”
AG Barr pointed out that the government reserves capital punishment for the “worst criminals.” These include five murderers a jury of their peers found guilty and sentenced to death “after a full and fair proceeding.”
The AG emphasized the importance of the rule of law (which has suffered, lately). He said, “We owe it to the victims and their families to carry forward the sentence imposed by our justice system.”
While I believe there are valid arguments against the death penalty (including it’s not severe enough punishment for such human vermin), and I respect opponents’ opinions, I hope they don’t lose a moment of sleep over even one of these condemned convicts’ demise—I won’t.
The federal government has executed no one since 2003. But it was a capital punishment review directed by President Obama in 2014, citing concerns over the drugs used in lethal injections, that resulted in an effective suspension of capital punishment.
In 2003, the federal government executed Louis Jones. A court had convicted Jones of murdering a young female soldier. Oh, and Jones had first kidnapped and then raped her. Nope, not gonna lose any sleep.
