[GaReb770]

<p>Case 1.  The case against the shooter of the Arizona Congress woman and who killed several others will probably take years to resolve according to prosecutors.  IMHO there is no reason for this case to take more than one year for prosecution.  There are no ambiguities (sp?).  The only possible question would be the mental stability of the shooter, and even there the only issue is whether his mental illness is such that he did not understand what he was doing.  The fact he meticulouly and in great detailed planned his shooting spree cuts out the legs of that argument.  But we will spend years as well as millions making sure he receives justice while the victims lay in their graves or suffer from his actions. </p>
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<p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110123/ap_on_re_us/us_congresswoman_shot" target="_blank">http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110123/ap_on_re_us/us_congresswoman_shot</a><span style="display:none;"> </span></p>
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<p>Case 2.  We have a man in Georgia scheduled for execution Tuesday night.  His attorneys are not asking for clemency.  Instead they are challenging whether the current system of euthanization is a humane manner in which to put him to death.  His attorneys are also arguing that the three medications used to put someone to death may have expired.  Fine.  We can give him the choice of the medications or the electric chair (which is still available although no longer used in Georgia).  Either will put him to death much more humanely than he did his victim.  And of course, a judge is still reviewing his case so he may or may not be executed Tuesday night while he receives the "justice" his victim did not.<span style="display:none;"> </span>His case is not based on circumstantial evidence.  He raped and murdered his victim by shooting her in the face in 1988.  We are just now getting around to justice for the victim.  She was 27 and engaged at the time.  She would possibly be a new grandmother or at least getting ready for her son's or daughter's wedding  now had her life not been taken from her.</p>
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[Rainey]

<p>A firing squad seems humane or a gillotine. Let family members be part of the squad, 6 members so no one knows who actually hit him.</p>

 

[4boysmom]

<p>The euth solution is expired?  Not a problem.  Call any vet or humane society.  I'm sure they have a spare bottle of T-61.  </p>

 

[yar]

<p>Being able to carry out a meticulous plan is not necessarily evidence of mental stability.  It probably doesn't prove that the person knew the act to be "wrong".Even if he were concerned about getting caught- it could just mean (to him) that everybody trying to stop him was part of some evil conspiracy.  Sure, everybody who shoots up a crowd is probably a little bit nuts, but in a case like this, you probably want professionals determining whether the perp was responsible for his actions.  (then again, I'm sure a lot of people don't care if he's crazy or not).</p>
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<p>yar</p>

 

[jebba]

<p>Just a point of accuracy: there are actually two different ways in which a person could be considered legally insane.  Either they didn't understand the difference between right and wrong, or they understood the difference, but their mental status made them unable to comport themselves within the law.  Example one would be someone who thinks a sword is a magical wand that cure cancer, and starts stabbing people thinking they are helping them.  Example two would be the belief that someone (say Joe Smith down the block) is building a nuclear bomb and will destroy the city, and although murder is wrong, it is necessary to ensure the safety of others.</p>
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<p>The of course there is the issue of competency, whether a person can understand the judicial process well enough to assist in their own defense.  This is more often an issue with mental retardation, or mental illness so severe that a person has lost all touch with reality.</p>