Texas kills fancy last meal requests on death row

[HM]

On the radio today there was a discussion about this. Apparently this tradition of a last meal goes back to Roman times and has to do with the executioner not wanting to be haunted by the executee. They "bribed" them with a choice of meal or something.

 

[NY Disney fan]

Because we are civilized...
it goes along with allowing them to visit with family before their death and also with humane execution IMO...

Civilized? you mean, before we kill them?

 

[Uncle Remus]

Because we are civilized...
it goes along with allowing them to visit with family before their death and also with humane execution IMO...

Maybe we should kill 'em in the mornin', right after a good healthy bowl of oatmeal.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Because we are civilized...
it goes along with allowing them to visit with family before their death and also with humane execution IMO...

My wife agrees, but draws the line with gluttony. Pick one or two items - not as many as you wish, most of which will get tossed in the trash.

 

[Frantasmic]

I can see perhaps granting one special entree/item to be added to the regular meal being served.

However, if you read other prisoners' last meal requests and look at the background, there has been news items that demonstrate that the prisoners, in general, load up on items that will create the biggest "mess" after death. In effect, it is generally a last attempt at saying you-know-what you to the establishment.

 

[tmarquez]

I wonder how many of these last meals are actually eaten?

I mean if I was about to be put to death, I don't think my stomach would feel up to eating much of anything at all.

 

[DWGal210]

Considering the caliber of "human beings" who are on death row, I think a simple meal is sufficient.

 

[luvmy3]

Brewer was disgusting... however I do think that the tradition of giving a condemned person a special last meal should be continued.

I totally disagree, they did something they deserve to die for. That automatically disqualifies them from getting anything "special". Give them some rice and water and then throw the switch.

 

[akhenaten]

Civilized? you mean, before we kill them?

NY Disney fan
I personally struggle with the idea of a death penalty ( this particular crime is one which makes me unable to be totally against a death penalty) ... but if we as a society are going to allow it.... the process should be as "civilized" as possible.

 

[Malibustyle23]

I wonder how many of these last meals are actually eaten?

I mean if I was about to be put to death, I don't think my stomach would feel up to eating much of anything at all.

Some states have gone along with a study that shows many death row inmates appetites wane in the last hours before the end so they offer the "last meal" a few days before execution. Texas is not the first, other states have also stopped the last request meal.

Gluttony? Yes, but honestly if it was the last thing you could eat and you have survived off prison food for the last decade wouldn't you want a last taste of all of your favorites?

There is a book that has lists and pictures of what many high profile convicts requested and were served for their last meal before execution.

 

[akhenaten]

My wife agrees, but draws the line with gluttony. Pick one or two items - not as many as you wish, most of which will get tossed in the trash.

I agree.. it is last meal not last meals....

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

I totally disagree, they did something they deserve to die for. That automatically disqualifies them from getting anything "special". Give them some rice and water and then throw the switch.

 

[Uncle Remus]

NY Disney fan
I personally struggle with the idea of a death penalty ( this particular crime is one which makes me unable to be totally against a death penalty) ... but if we as a society are going to allow it.... the process should be as "civilized" as possible.

So let's talk real world civility 'n not DisneyWorld civility. He's gonna die, so why feed this criminal this elaborate meal when so many in this country need food to live?

 

[PeterPan09]

I'm still uncomfortable with the death penalty anyway, so this is a tough one. It concerns me that the state of GA executed a man this week even though there seemed to be a not so insignificant amount of question as to his guilt. Yet, the low life that dragged a man to his death behind a car certainly deserves a far greater punishment than being basically put to sleep, or being fed, housed and clothed by the taxpayers for years. It's a complex and emotional issue.

As far as the food, is Texas really going to save that much money with this? I mean, how much due these meals actually add to the budget? I've always thought of them as a way that we showed that we were more merciful than the person who committed the crime.

 

[akhenaten]

So let's talk real world civility 'n not DisneyWorld civility. He's gonna die, so why feed this criminal this elaborate meal when so many in this country need food to live?

lets slide further down your scale... why feed the prisoners at all.... they could just stave to death and there would be no fancy execution...

ETA my civility is not "disney world" civility .. it has been the standard civility in our country for many years... through worse famines and depressions..

 

[luvmy3]

NY Disney fan
I personally struggle with the idea of a death penalty ( this particular crime is one which makes me unable to be totally against a death penalty) ... but if we as a society are going to allow it.... the process should be as "civilized" as possible.

Getting a meal has nothing to do with the process of executing someone. The last meal is a privilege, one that the inmate gave up when they decided to commit their crime IMO. Keeping the process civilized means not beheading them in the town square, or quartering and disemboweling them. It has nothing do to do with giving them one last privilege.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

So let's talk real world civility 'n not DisneyWorld civility. He's gonna die, so why feed this criminal this elaborate meal when so many in this country need food to live?

I tend to agree with you, but my wife is very compassionate and feels differently. I understand her point of view, even if we disagree.

 

[PeterPan09]

So let's talk real world civility 'n not DisneyWorld civility. He's gonna die, so why feed this criminal this elaborate meal when so many in this country need food to live?

but are the meals for the dead men walking really the problem? I find it hard to believe that these meals, no matter how gluttonous the choices, were the real cause of people not getting food. Is Texas going to use the money they're saving to feed the hungry?

 

[akhenaten]

Getting a meal has nothing to do with the process of executing someone. The last meal is a privilege, one that the inmate gave up when they decided to commit their crime IMO. Keeping the process civilized means not beheading them in the town square, or quartering and disemboweling them. It has nothing do to do with giving them one last privilege.

actually it has had a lot to do with the process for a very long time...

 

[DWGal210]

Keeping the process civilized means not beheading them in the town square, or quartering and disemboweling them. It has nothing do to do with giving them one last privilege.

I agree. These are not choir boys or angels we're talking about. They've committed horrendous, sickening crimes against humanity.