South Carolina lawmakers are set to discuss a proposal Wednesday afternoon that
would allow the state to execute death row inmates using the electric chair if
lethal injection drugs are not available.
Under current law, criminals sentenced to the death penalty in South Carolina
can choose whether to die by lethal injection or electrocution.
But because the state does not currently have access to the necessary drugs to
complete a lethal injection, authorities have not been able to execute anyone
in 6 years.
A bill proposed by state Sen. William Timmons, R-Greenville, would allow the
state to electrocute death row inmates if those drugs remain unavailable, even
if they elect for lethal injection.
Privacy
The Senate Corrections and Penology Study Committee is scheduled to meet at 2
p.m. Wednesday to debate the measure.
S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster has also called on the Legislature to pass a "shield
law," which would allow companies to sell the drugs to the state confidentially
in order to avoid public scrutiny.
Source:
Post and Courier, Jamie Lovegrove, January 10
Todd Kohlhepp victims plead with senators to improve South Carolina system for
executions
Victims of Upstate serial killer Todd Kohlhepp on Wednesday pleaded with
senators to improve the state's execution system after the state's prisons
director said his agency no longer has the ability to carry out lethal
injections.
Sen. William Timmons of Greenville, a former prosecutor, has proposed 2 bills
to change that.
The 1st would shield firms that supply lethal injection drugs
and the 2nd would require those sentenced to death to be executed in an
electric chair if lethal injection is not available.
The Senate panel that took both bills up heard testimony and asked for
additional information before adjourning.
Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey,
who chairs the subcommittee, said he believes the panel will meet again soon
and pass out at least 1 of the bills.
"I think some of the attention over the last couple of months has educated
legislators as to how big of an issue it is," he said. "Right now I'm
optimistic something will move forward. I think there clearly is a problem.
It's a problem for solicitors. It's a problem for the Department of Corrections
and we need to try and fix it."
Timmons said he is hopeful both of his bills will pass.
Source: Anderson Independent Mail, January 10, 2018
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"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde
