Next month Arkansas will go on a marathon of executions–8 people in 10 days–that mean doing 4 doubles. This has never been done before.
Why are they doing this? Is it because they need to lessen the prison population because of overcrowding? To end these prisoners’ cruel anxiety of having death constantly hanging over their heads? To give faster “closure” to victims’ families? Because a new law was passed? No.
This stepped-up execution schedule, after carrying out no executions for almost 12 years, isn’t for legal or humane reasons. It’s because one of the chemicals used in their executions is about to expire and they don’t want to waste it.
Unbelievable? Read Accelerated executions: Arkansas plans 8 over 10-day period.
Extra stress on staff is expected, so counselling is being arranged for them. And they promised that they’ll do everything right, even though horrific mistakes have been made during single executions under far less stressful conditions.
The whole thing gives me great pause.