Executions in Oklahoma: Cruel and Unusual?

After a judge ruled that Oklahoma could continue executions by lethal injection, despite allegations that the trio of drugs they use violates the 8th amendment, the state scheduled as many executions as they legally could. Now, the state is killing inmates at a rapid rate despite a history of botched executions. VICE News examines: Are these inmates suffering through cruel or unusual punishment?

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[seanbutler]

I just find it so difficult to offer humanity to someone who had no problem ignoring someone else’s humanity so frivolously. I laugh at the idea that a violent offender will complain about human rights abuses, absolutely astonishes me.

[Brandiafinegirl]

When it's someone hurting your loved ones, you want justice. When it's your loved one facing execution, you want mercy.

[richardsage]

Easier death than the way most of them murdered their victims

[Mimrie]

I'm opposed to the death penalty, but why wouldn't they just use a firing squad? Seems cheaper, less complicated, and far less painful.

[aztec]

It's really really easy to solve this problem by administering proper drugs. Problem is I think drug companies objected to their anesthetic drugs being used for executions. I'm an anesthetist, midazolam is not right for execution cocktail, the state of Oklahoma is either cheap or stupid

[OregonSilverStacker]

So the murderer kills an old couple probably very painfully but he doesn't want to die painfully? How ironic

[mariest.]

Ok but lets not forget the many death row inmates that were wrongfully convicted. There are some that got found innocent after their death or are clearly not guilty. Those are the ones my heart breaks most for.

[christaylor]

So ironic how these people want empathy after they brutally murder people.

[KeiononPS]

I wonder if Scott cared about the cruel and unusual nature of his actions when he broke into the elderly couple's home, shot Patsy, and then beat AJ to death all so that he could stalk his ex-girlfriend and later attack her child and her mother. I'm not empathetic that this man had to face the consequences of his evil actions.

[noelmaher]

Imagine the grimacing of the elderly couples last minutes..They got a two second mention in this production..Go JJ.

[attosharc]

Where was HIS empathy when he murdered an elderly couple. His death was far too easy.

[brandonjohnson]

Here's the kicker. Let's forget about him for a sec. Imagine the fear and pain his victims went through. For no reason.

[jocortez]

Couldn't help but notice that State Rep did not answer the question. Really danced around that one.

[belami_irl]

I don’t understand why he expects mercy when he showed absolutely none to this innocent elderly couple while he murdered them. But now he wants to talk about “indignation”? He has more to worry about when he meets his maker I think.

[wut-dah_]

I don’t take pleasure in knowing they could suffer. That being said, I’m not terribly remorseful either. It’s just strange, someone who felt perfectly entitled to inflict suffering on to others and ultimately take their life talking about how they’re being treated unfairly. But still, if we see fit to inflict unchecked pain onto someone because we can, where is the line between justice and vengeance drawn? What does that make us in turn? Taking a life out of anger or malice is exactly what the person on the table did. That anger and carelessness is how we end up killing innocent people on accident, and it’d just be more murder at that point.

[crimsoneffix]

Wow....this is such a controversial topic. I'm not sure to be completely honest that if somebody took away someone I loved that I would care if they felt pain. I think that's human nature. The crimes that these people commit are sometimes horrifying. They submit their victims to horrific pain and agony and then ask for mercy when it comes back to haunt them. I don't know...just being honest. If I was the victims family I'm not sure that I would care.

[natassia]

You’ve got to be kidding me. An inmate on death row wants sympathy after the cruel and unusual punishment to their victims. F them

[gamuiceyt]

Some of these people on death row have some nerve considering they never awarded the people they killed a dignified painless death /murder 🤷🏾‍♀️

[gretelh]

When talking about cruel and unusual punishments I think there is one horrible punishment that is used much more frequently and with far wider reaching consequences = solitary confinement. That is incredibly cruel and mentally damaging with potential long lasting effects.

[benderisgreatable]

Beheading is ironically the most certain and humane way to kill someone if you're okay with the undignified manner of it. The shock of so many nerves in the upper spine severing sets you unconscious instantly. Also pretty cheap.