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32
57
Yes No
Debate Score:89
Arguments:54
Total Votes:92
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 Yes (23)
 
 No (31)

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Hellno(17753) pic



Texas ends 'last meals' for death row inmates: Good Idea?

Texas stopped serving so-called last meals to death row inmates this week after a state lawmaker complained about an inmate request he considered excessive.

The furor arose after Lawrence Brewer, 44, a convicted murderer and self-described white supremacist, requested a last meal that included: two chicken-fried steaks with gravy and sliced onions; a triple-patty bacon cheeseburger; a cheese omelet with ground beef, tomatoes, onions, bell peppers and jalapeños; a bowl of fried okra with ketchup; one pound of barbecued meat with half a loaf of white bread; three fajitas; a meat-lover’s pizza; one pint of Blue Bell Ice Cream; a slab of peanut-butter fudge with crushed peanuts; and three root beers.

Brewer had been condemned to die for the 1998 dragging death of James Byrd Jr. in the East Texas town of Jasper; the slaying drew international attention and led to state and federal hate-crimes legislation.

The meal was prepared at the prison kitchen at the Huntsville Unit where Brewer was being held and served shortly before he was executed Wednesday. Brewer chose not to eat it, prison officials said.

State Sen. John Whitmire, a Houston Democrat, was outraged at the meal request, which he considered outlandish. On Thursday, he shot off a letter to Brad Livingston, executive director of the state prison agency, demanding that prison workers stop preparing special last meals.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/09/texas-ends-death-row-inmates-final-meals.html

Yes

Side Score: 32
VS.

No

Side Score: 57
3 points

They should end it. Everybody is worried about the criminal and not the victim. He killed someone and now we as a society should reward him for it. The number of appeals and time in prison should be shorter. If they want a last meal, they should try something fried. Preferably them.

Side: yes
2 points

Sure, they did a horrible thing. But, firstly, everybody deserves a last meal, one last time where they get to indulge in their very favorite dish before they go to a better place.

More importantly, everyone deserves a second chance. When I was 18, I was pulled over by the police for drinking and driving. An officer walked up to the car to arrest me, and I just broke down crying; I told him I was a kid, I'd never done a thing wrong in my life, I'd never be able to face my parents, yada yada yada. He said to me "OK, kid, park your car and go home, I'll let you off this time." Then he said to me "Everybody deserves a second chance".

Ironically, I was drafted to fight in Vietnam a week later, but the point is, he gave me a second chance.

And if the government is unwilling to give a second chance, (which in this case might be the right call) the least they can do is let someone about to die have a damn meal.

Side: No
Uspwns101(444) Disputed
1 point

First of all it is laughable that you believe death row inmates are going to a "better place" and second of all, if you had crashed that car while you were drunk and killed someone, do you think the cop would/should have given you a second chance? And lastly why do they deserve the last meal? Did the person he killed get an extravagant last meal before he died? Hell no he didn't. Are they denying a last meal request period? No they can have prison food if they want one more time.

Side: yes
1 point

first off the last meal shouldnt be served because you shouldnt kill inmates since that would be murder

Side: No

I don't think the "last meal" is anything but a way for society to feel less guilty for killing someone. Its not like they don't automatically get fed. They just get to choose what the eat, but honestly who wants to eat before they know their going to die anyway?

As a society why do we owe them anything, they killed someone, ending the life of someone who didn't get a "last meal" and subsequently lived off the rest of us for years plenty of time for him to get "right with god" or whatever (more time then his victim got). We don't owe them anything, get over your own guilt.

Side: yes
casper3912(1581) Disputed
2 points

Its not about owing inmates, its about being decent human beings.

The last meal is a sign of kindness; it is offering someone, who will soon no longer have the ability to experience them, a limited choice of the near final sensations he will soon be denied forever. If your going to kill someone, you either do it as a monster or you do it with honor. I'll prefer the state to be more honorable in more of its activities, and not in less.

Side: No
Uspwns101(444) Disputed
2 points

What is monstrous about not going out of the way to give a murderer a ridiculously extravagant last meal.

Side: yes
2 points

When you are talking about stuff like this involving death row, ask yourself this simple question, Did the murderer give his/her victim a final meal choice? No they didn't. Did the murderer give the victim an extra 15 years to try and convince them not to kill them? Nope.

Side: yes
casper3912(1581) Disputed
2 points

So your argument is that we should be just like or worst then the death row inmate?

Side: No
2 points

Capital punishment or even imprisoning people for breaking the law does not make us the same as them. Would you chain a man to the back of your car and drag him three miles killing him in the process because you hated him? Well I'm pretty sure you would say no I would say no most people would say no and hopefully the people who would do something like that wont because they know they will spend the rest of their life in jail and might die as well. Add on that they might not get a last meal maybe it will stop one more murder=)

Side: yes
Uspwns101(444) Disputed
2 points

No, my argument is for justice, if we "behave" like them, it is so that the punishment fits the crime. So no, we will not be anything like them, we will not drag them behind a car for miles, we will just kill them.

Side: yes
1 point

Yes because that huge buffet was never intended to be eaten by the condemned prisoner - it's his legacy to the other prisoners who get to eat some thing good other than grits, oats or peanut butter. I guess if he touched it - the guards would've have to throw it all away.

Just put a limit on the cost as to a single serving at a good restuarant. I want sushi - ikura nigeri mmmmmmmm oh! with some cold sake! ( not the hot - tastes like urine and well, in prison - you never really know what's being served)

Does the convicted get to have a choice of method of execution? Hanging, firing squad or chemical?

Side: Under 70 dollars

The decision to end last meals for death row inmates in Texas may be seen as a way to remove a perceived "privilege" for those who have committed heinous crimes, but ultimately it is unlikely to have any significant impact on the criminal justice system or public safety, read more...

Side: Yes
4 points

If the problem is "outlandish" requests, then why over react and stop all of them?

Its a typical government response to over react, and it shouldn't be put up with.

Last meals are a sign of a refined society, and since there are not many death sentences carried out the financial burden shouldn't be too much on a system that wastes far more.

Side: No
3 points

Whilst I agree that they should not be stopped, I would disagree that they are a sign of refined society. A refined society does not feel a need to kill its criminals.

Side: No
3 points

Unfortunately we can't exile our criminals any more, and if we did we might develop later problems.

Some criminals should be kept separate from society for their entire lives. This means either life sentences or the death penalty.

In such cases I support what ever is cheaper. Prisoners can labor, and be state slaves(it would be kinda like being in the military, only worst); possibly generating a surplus. Even without considering that, any system which ensures enough good evidence has been established to make sure your not killing an innocent man will likely be costly, so life in prison is probably the best option.

However, if we are to kill our criminals. Then treating them with dignity is certainly more refined then other wise correct?

The most refined society wouldn't have criminals.

Side: No
4 points

There's a lot of issues with the last meal and the death penalty, but eliminating the last meal just because some guy was a jagoff is a bit too much.

Just make it so that the last meal has to be reasonalbe. or better, don't use the death penalty.

Side: No
4 points

Murdering criminals is a crime itself. The very least we can do is give them the best meal they'll ever had. Why take that away? How much more do we need to become like them before we're satisfied? First we resign ourselves to murdering them as they murdered other people, instead of being the better people and letting them live, but now we want to also torture them by taking from them the best request a doomed human should be allowed?

That's sick. Sicker then the person being put to death.

Side: No
2 points

When i think hard, i get softhearted for people in prison. I think nobody deserves to spend the rest of their lives in a small place. And i don't think people have the right to lawfully or unlawfully kill people.

But when i don't think hard, im like...what does he or she deserves to get a special meal?

Anyway, i think that it is a good idea to give death row inmates the meal of their choice because it shows how kind hearted a person is and i want to be THAT person...you know? :)

Side: No

Exactly. This is exactly what I wanted to say. Thank you.

Side: No
2 points

I don't mind them eating a last meal as long as it isn't excessive. I just want people to keep in mind however, that we're funding this with our tax dollars.

Side: No

HOW ABOUT TEXAS END THE DEATH PENALTY IN GENERAL?--------------------

Side: No
2 points

Texas is so gung ho to kill off it's prisoners. Maybe next they will just decide to drop giving fair trials before they kill people. BTW do you realize that nearly 20 people sitting on death row right now are innocent of the crimes in which they were found guilty. half of those will not be discovered until they have been executed.

Side: No
Thewayitis(4071) Disputed
2 points

Of course there are a few innocent people, nothing is perfect. How many of those that sit on death row are innocent of all crimes? There is generally a history of violence or criminal acts among those on death row, so who cares if these people are out of circulation. They are generally guilty of a serious crime, if not the murder of this victim probably another.

If you think I'm cold, just remember guilty people go free as well. Casey Anthony, O. J. Simpson, just a few on that list.

Side: yes
Phreekshow(246) Disputed
4 points

Yes but killingeven one innocent person makes you a murderer. The state killing an innocent person makes that entire state murderers. How can you justify the wrongful execution of just one innocent life by simply saying the system is not perfect. Not to mention that killing a murderer makes you just as bad as them. Capital Punishment afterall is state sanctioned murder.

Side: No
1 point

I say let 'em keep it. I mean, they've been sitting around for twenty years, day in and day out, knowing death is slowly approaching, might as well let them have a good eat, first. Still though, there should be a food weight limit or something, three pounds, maybe.

Side: No
1 point

One of the few video games that may claim to reflect changes in common sense through generations and decades is Super Mario, which you have surely heard of. Most people have heard of Mario, the Italian plumber who always appears to be dressed in a jumpsuit. Now, anyone can play it for free on a PC online. Super Mario

Supporting Evidence: Super Mario (super-mario.io)
Side: No