It has been common practice for the prison to give the prisoner the choice of his or her last meal before execution. However, this practice has been stopped in Texas, after a large request was not consumed. Upon hearing this news, Senator John Whitmire commented that "It is extremely inappropriate to give a person sentenced to death such a privilege. One which the perpetrator did not provide to their victim."
The drop of the last meal in Texas will surely spark some controversy over the humane-ness of it, as well as call attention to the cruelty of the death penalty in general.
What do you think? Does the prisoner deserve the privilege of a last meal? Or is he really deserving of being completely miserable before he dies?
And in case you were wondering, the prisoner who refused to eat his last meal was Lawrence Brewer, who was executed for his involvement in the infamous racially-motivated murder of James Byrd, Jr., who was dragged to death.
The Times, They are A-Changin’
2 hours ago
3 comments:
The last meal just seems like one of those traditions that just never stopped or was reconsidered. I'd have to say that offering a last meal almost seems like mockery. I don't believe that this is such a big deal and contrary to what Whitmire to says, a little humanity never hurt anyone. Allocating a last meal for those being executed doesn't seem too out of place although it does spark religious roots.
I agree with what Crystal said; the "last meal" seems to me like a tradition that just kind of continued on, and now that its continuity is called into question, all its years of history are sparking controversy. However, I don't know if being able to choose his/her last meal is something that matters a lot to prisoners. Maybe make this "last meal" an option - if prisoners feel strongly about it, they can choose, but if they don't really care, they can opt out as well.
I find this action of no longer giving inmates the choice to request their last meal on the basis that they didn't give the person they killed the chance to choose their last meal as stupid. Of course, these inmates did commit capital crimes, but I don't think that Senator Whitmire's reason to end this tradition warrants the end of this tradition. As Crystal brought up, "a little humanity never hurt anyone." Am I surprised? Not really, it's Texas.
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