Man With Multiple Disabilities Executed in CA
From the Associated Press:
Clarence Ray Allen, whose 76th birthday was Monday, was pronounced dead at 12:38 a.m. at San Quentin State Prison....Allen, who was blind and mostly deaf, suffered from diabetes and had a nearly fatal heart attack in September only to be revived and returned to death row, was assisted into the death chamber by four large correctional officers and lifted out of his wheelchair.
Read story:
California Executes Oldest Inmate (Associated Press)
I'm torn. While it's irritating that opponents of capital punishment saw fit to give more attention to Tookie than to a disabled man, it's almost equally irritating that the story uses Allen's disabilities to play the "pity card" in the course of its agenda. Where's the equality?
Posted by: Evonne Acevedo | January 18, 2006 11:32 AM
I do not believe we should murder anyone under any circumstances BUT if we allow the death penalty and we want equal rights and the disability has no bearing on the crime - then the disability should have no bearing on the punishment.
Posted by: Susan Fitzmaurice | January 18, 2006 11:34 AM
I agree with Susan. I may not agree with the death penalty but I do believe that we should be treated equally.
This man was evil. He murdered and continued to pay people to murder in his name while behind bars. His disability has no bearing on the case.
Posted by: Gimpy Mumpy | January 18, 2006 07:41 PM
I am intrigued I would like to know where I could find out more about this story.
Posted by: Roundtuit | February 1, 2006 10:36 AM
....this isn't really a disability issue at all,but rather one of a man who was convicted long ago for murder,while he was not disabled,and a legal system that fiddled around so long that the guy grew old before they finally carried out the sentence.
Posted by: Gail Nichols | February 4, 2006 07:11 PM