In the papers around here they say that this man, Ronnie Lee Gardner, asked for being shot instead of the injection. And got his will.
The death penalty is medieval and that Europe waded through medieval blood and gore for centuries (and still does today, depending on where you set the borders of Europe) doesn't change the fact. But it's very easy to turn this one into plump anti-Americanism, as it so promptly happens around here. You know, those stupid bigoted mormon Cowboys, shooting people. Europe has not much space for that arrogance, imho. Always remember, it took the Swiss until 1971 (and in some cantons til 1990) for
allowing women to vote. Liechtenstein made it in 1984. You can't and should not equate that with the death penalty. I know. But speaking of medieval.
Also, Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff announced the execution on Twitter, on June 18th (-->
http://twitter.com/MarkShurtleff) as I read today. I researched it and he said: "I just gave the go ahead to Corrections Director to proceed with Gardner's execution. May God grant him the mercy he denied his victims." Then, obviously pissed by some comments on his twittering, he writes: "WARNING! This page informs on real world of crime and punishment. "If u can't stand the TWEET, get out of the TWITCHEN" Harry Truman" (June 19th) and finally: "Astonishing that no retweet whiner express outrage that Gardner shot 2 men in the face, & a cop; nor one word of empathy for their families."
Whatever you may think about the death penalty, handling this shit on TWITTER simply seems wrong in a fundamental way.