EU Urges Texas Governor To Halt Executions

As Texas Prepares For 400th Execution Since 1982, European Union Asks For Moratorium On Death Penalty

(AP)  The European Union on Tuesday urged the governor of Texas to halt executions in the United States' busiest death penalty state.

In an unusual direct appeal, the EU said Governor Rick Perry should introduce a moratorium on the death penalty and stop the impending 400th execution since Texas resumed capital punishment in 1982.

The execution of Johnny Ray Conner by lethal injection for the shooting death of a Houston grocery store owner during an attempted holdup in 1998 is scheduled for this week.

"The European Union notes with great regret the upcoming execution in the State of Texas," the bloc said in a statement.

The death penalty is banned in the 27-nation EU, which also fights for its global abolition.

"The irreversibility of the punishment means that miscarriages of justice — which are inevitable in all legal systems — cannot be redressed," the EU said.

Meanwhile, China has announced that it will execute people who sabotage the nation's electricity supply, reversing recent steps to rein in widespread use of the death penalty.

Under a new legal interpretation by the Supreme People's Court, death can be ordered in extremely serious cases where people are killed or injured, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

Executions can also be ordered when direct economic losses exceed 1 million yuan ($131,500), when power is cut for six hours or longer, affecting industrial production or more than 10,000 households, or where there are "other serious consequences that endangered public security," Xinhua said.

Xinhua and the court's official newspaper gave no explanation as to what prompted the legal interpretation or how serious a problem the sabotage of power supplies is in China.

Last month, the court said it would crack down on the uneven application of the death penalty in different regions.

Chinese courts are believed to order about 80 percent of the world's court-ordered executions — at least 1,770 people in 2005 and possibly many more.

[vancouverboo]

What the world needs now is more not fewer executions. The fewer executions the more trash. The more executions the fewer trash.

[klingon69]

But who or what is being executed? In China it is criminals, debtors, political prisoners...etc.
In Texas, it is criminals. Murderers, serial rapists, rapists/murderers...etc

[theusa1st]

The European Union, or the rest of the world for that matter, has no business in telling us what our judicial system can and cannot do. And by the way, Carla Faye Tucker got what she deserved, it''s just to bad it took so long and wasted more taxpayers money. Let''s spend our tax money on something good instead of something evil. I agree with vancouverboo...it is time to take out the trash...less trash better living conditions for everyone.

[gunownerdan]

The death penalty is the only way to make sure a violent homicidal nutcase will never kill again.
Period.

[klingon69]

I do not see how executions make Mr. Perry a better person, much less a supporter of life. Abortions and executions are on the same edge of morality. You cannot support one and the other.
Posted by mjlewis6 at 11:28 AM : Aug 21, 2007

They may be similar in that both terminate a life, however there are many differences.
IMHO the most important is that the criminals that are executed had a chance at life, a chance to do something great and chose crime. They chose to kill/steal/rape...etc.
An aborted baby had no chance at life, no chance to do something great. Who knows, the aborted child may have been another Dr Sweitzer(sp) or maybe another John Wayne Gacy. Either way, those condemned to be executed had the chance the aborted did not.

[edintex]

Applying the death penalty in Texas has very little to do with Govenor Perry. The majority of Texas residents asked for the death penalty law and require that our prosecutors and judges to apply it wherever applicable. With the advent of DNA testing, most of us feel quite comfortable with the "final" penalty of death.
If outsiders do not agree with our laws, their problem is really with the residents of Texas and NOT our political and legislative leaders.
We invite the good people and the criminals alike to stay away from Texas if you cannot live within our laws.
Its very simple folks..."If you want to commit crimes, DONT COME TO TEXAS"

[gunnerv1]

Don''t screwup in Texas, we have an "Express" line right to the front. LOL!

[xzavierbrown]

GOOD!!CAN WE SHIP ALL THESE DEATH ROW INMATES TO EUROPE??

[xzavierbrown]

I urge the Europe to stop using mayo on thier fries.....AND I WANT IT TO STOP NOW!!
I urge Eurpeans to shower more often..and shave those arm pits..AND I WANT IT DONE NOW!!

and why I should not hold my breath?? because the Europeans does not give a F8UCK what this country thinks..hence why would we give a fu8ck what they want??????????????????????????

[stezzer]

Here in the UK most Brits want out of the EU. It''s a lousy corrupt organization only loved by left wing politicians riding the free gravy train on our taxes. We fought these clowns in two world wars, only to end up being told what to do by them.

How dare they try and interfere with America. We Brits have surrendered to their bullying, I hope you show them the door with a foot up their backsides.

No one tells America what to do, that''s why you''re the best country on earth.

[oldpilot954]

I have no problem with shipping all of the death row inmates to Europe if the EU can guarantee they will NEVER set foot on US soil again or come in contact with any US citizen. If they love murders, rapists, etc. so much, let them prey on European citizenry.

[lardalwhite]

We left the EU long ago. We think totally different here in the USA.
Oh a little left over King James

Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again. 21 And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it: and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death. 22 Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country

[keithle1]

Who the heck is the EU to tell Texas what to do?
Stick it in your ear. Maybe Texas doesn''t feel like paying for the room & board of murderers
year after year.

You don''t want to get executed by the state then don''t murder anyone. Europe doesn''t have the psychos with guns like we do here. Everybody & his idiot inbred cousin has a gun. Tons of violent crime in the U.S. A lot of it related to the drug trade.

Go back to eating your snails & worshipping Jerry Lewis.

[standlee5]

Maybe we can deport our deathrow inmates to EU.

[drinuk]

Tell Europe to go shove their plea. Here you can blow anyone, including a policeman, away and be free inside ten years. Europe is run by a bunch of liberal, green, pacifist do-gooders who frankly should mind their own bloody business. Europe is full of people drawing benefit who were firing AK47s at children a year ago, Brussels is a JOKE.

Ignore them Texas, get on with the job of ridding this earth of scum, pity Europe does not have the same policy.

[drinuk]

Tell Europe to go shove their plea. Here you can blow anyone, including a policeman, away and be free inside ten years. Europe is run by a bunch of liberal, green, pacifist do-gooders who frankly should mind their own bloody business. Europe is full of people drawing benefit who were firing AK47s at children a year ago, Brussels is a JOKE.

Ignore them Texas, get on with the job of ridding this earth of scum, pity Europe does not have the same policy.

[drinuk]

Tell Europe to go shove their plea. Here you can blow anyone, including a policeman, away and be free inside ten years. Europe is run by a bunch of liberal, green, pacifist do-gooders who frankly should mind their own bloody business. Europe is full of people drawing benefit who were firing AK47s at children a year ago, Brussels is a JOKE.

Ignore them Texas, get on with the job of ridding this earth of scum, pity Europe does not have the same policy.

[drinuk]

Tell Europe to go shove their plea. Here you can blow anyone, including a policeman, away and be free inside ten years. Europe is run by a bunch of liberal, green, pacifist do-gooders who frankly should mind their own bloody business. Europe is full of people drawing benefit who were firing AK47s at children a year ago, Brussels is a JOKE.

Ignore them Texas, get on with the job of ridding this earth of scum, pity Europe does not have the same policy.

[drinuk]

Tell Europe to go shove their plea. Here you can blow anyone, including a policeman, away and be free inside ten years. Europe is run by a bunch of liberal, green, pacifist do-gooders who frankly should mind their own bloody business. Europe is full of people drawing benefit who were firing AK47s at children a year ago, Brussels is a JOKE.

Ignore them Texas, get on with the job of ridding this earth of scum, pity Europe does not have the same policy.

[meboard]

I say keep it going until a certain "Texas Son" get''s back home...we may need it!

[jowand]

meboard
You got "Deranged Bush" syndrome too HUH? Better get treatment for it immediately it could cause you to vote democrat witha small d.

[skyk-2009]

"The irreversibility of the punishment means that miscarriages of justice %u2014 which are inevitable in all legal systems %u2014 cannot be redressed."

And Civilized People think Southern Fascist have ANY concern about this fact? They know very little of these people, very little indeed!

[mcvet]

Ignore them Texas, get on with the job of ridding this earth of scum, pity Europe does not have the same policy.
Posted by drinuk at 04:01 AM : Aug 22, 2007

Well of course... say let''s just skip the show trials and go straight to the lynching!! Just arrest them, get a rope and find a tree. These people have no more sense of justice than those that came before them. Who knows how many innocent people they have murdered in their drive to "rid the planet of scum". The question for you and all the rest of the Fascist out there is Who is the Scum? The lyncher''s or the one''s being lynched? Sieg Heil Y''all.

[mcvet]

You got "Deranged Bush" syndrome too HUH? Better get treatment for it immediately it could cause you to vote democrat witha small d.
Posted by jowand at 06:25 AM : Aug 22, 2007

How''s that Swastika Breath? ROFLMAO You don''t think your fuhrer is responsible for the murder of a lot of innocent people? You REALLY need to take off a couple of those swastika''s or that Hood and Sheet as the case may be. You LOVE for the Fuhrer has really gotten to you. SIEG HEIL MEIN FUHRER!! Come on help me out here, all the guys at your local Nazi Youth group will like you for it!! SIEG HEIL

[antilynch]

hey texans-americans,that old testament quote is totally uncool,out of date,out of this world,you are the most hypocrite nation there has ever been on this planet,words are by far too poor to describe you;death penalty is just one of those things that make you "special".Maybe it''s ok to punish a murderer or a rapist by "putting him/her to sleep" but don''t get things mixed up,there is nothing religious about this,nothing democratic and definitely nothing humane.yeah...nobody should tell America what to do,you cannot tell a monster what to do...

[gunnerv1]

antilynch-When did Texas become a sovereign Nation? but seeing as you are not a part of the United States, please don''t send any of your trash here, we get tired of taking out your garbage.

[navyretired2]

I agree with the death penalty for killers and rapists, as well as for politicians who intentionally go against the Constitution (highest form of American treason in my book). But that''s MY opinion, luckily I''m still allowed to have and express that, although who knows for how much longer?

As soon as the EU becomes the 51st state, they''ll have a say in what a state here does. NO justice system in the world is completely, 100% perfect, and that is what they''re claiming their systems are, in essence, in making this statement.

Their stance that the death penalty system does not allow for redress is completely bogus, in that even convicted murderers sentenced to death have a right to an appeal.

[antilynch]

gunnerv:I post/send my thoughts anywhere I''m free to...whether it''s the US or EU...that''s the beauty of it..freedom of speech!and yes - the tired should go to sleep:) although I''ve got absolutely no ideea what garbage you are writing about!you''re just too mad about non-us citizens writing on this site...nationalism just never suited anybody..lighten up, willya?

[infidel_us]

Texas urges EU to give up socialism.

[mike71067]

The European Union needs to get their nose our of our business, and concentrate on their other matters, e.g., turning Western Europe into a gigantic communist state, bending over and grabbing their ankles for Islamic terrorists (the same way they bent over for Hitler), and putting the Antichrist into power, etc.

[processor2]

Executions DO stop repeat offenders.

Besides, don''t consider them executions, consider them to be late-tem abortions.

That should ease your liberal concious''s

..

[mike71067]

Besides, don''''t consider them executions, consider them to be late-tem abortions.
That should ease your liberal concious''''s
-Posted by processor2 at 10:27 AM : Aug 22, 2007

That was the best comment I''ve seen all day. Granted, it''s only 10:40am. But still, it highlights the liberals HUGE logic problem.

[xzavierbrown]

am a Texan & the EU is right as can be!

I hate our death penalty.
I think rotting in a prison and having to think about their life until they die is a much worse punishment. The death penalty is the easy way out.

"The irreversibility of the punishment means that miscarriages of justice %u2014 which are inevitable in all legal systems %u2014 cannot be redressed."




Posted by jh6379 at 09:41 AM : Aug 22, 2007
+ report abuse
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Letting death row inmates rott in jail is a very expensive preposition. our jails are already overwhelmed. How about this..since you are europe has a problem with this..why dont you pay extra taxes to pay for these people so you can sleep better at night OR we ship them all to europe??

[zhynaryll]

The EU needs to mind its own business and let the States alone. Wasn''t that what we fought for back in the 1770''s??? Hmmmm - sounds like they also never heard of the Monroe Doctrine, either. Stay out of our Hemisphere, our business, and whatever else it is they don''t like about us. Go talk to the Chinese and Iranians if they want to gripe about executions. Don''t mess with Texas!!

[rushman71]

xzavierbrown: I agree with you. With guys in jail who''ve raped and killed innocent people with no remorse living an unknown amount of years until they "naturally" die is like letting them off the hook!!! I don''t even understand why a person sentenced to death has to live a certain number of years in jail before they are killed for what they have done. If a person is sentenced to death, then DO IT!!! HANG ''EM!!! FRY ''EM!!! SHOOT ''EM!!! Whatever makes ya happy!!! Just do it!!! Our jail cells are all ready outnumbered as it is!!!

[rushman71]

What kind of makes me sick is watching people claiming guilty of the crimes get less punishment and no death sentence, than the people claiming innocent but found guilty!!! What a crock of shiit!!!

[gunnerv1]

antilynch- Not your thoughts or postings, just don''t send your Eurotrash here, or your form of Gov''t, we hate taking out the garbage. I don''t mind your posting, we need something to laugh at.

[gunnerv1]

antilynch- Not your thoughts or postings, just don''t send your Eurotrash here, or your form of Gov''t, we hate taking out the garbage. I don''t mind your posting, we need something to laugh at.

[toolmangler-2009]

Maybe Texas should halt all executions if EU agrees to let the poor innocents be paroled to the EU, then they can judge for themselves if the former inmates should be put to death..

[actornaught]

The whole legal process of putting someone to death costs more than simply warehousing them for life. Almost a minor point.

Two studies independantly found that the US has put to death at least 45 innocent people, i believe that was for the 20th century. On this one, I have to ask, how many innocent people is too many? Personally, i think one is too many.

I''m certain that some people need to die for what they''ve done, certainly more than do get executed.

But...

The process is too flawed, and it would make us more moral as a society if we just stopped it.