Just get all those on death row and all the attorneys who represented them. Or anyone else convicted of a felony and their attorneys. Let them scream about it, no one will believe them.

Anyone who turns away is next.

Why not the jury that convicted the guy?

quote:

The Chinese never seem to have a problem drawing a crowd

True. North Korea either. Executing people with anti aircraft gun probably quite popular. Something to think about. Knowing the Chinese it is probably required attendance for the witnesses.

I can see our neighbor to the Northeaat struggling to come up with six "respectable citizens." I urge them to place ads in newspapers and Craigslist titled, "Opportunity for Texans Trapped in Arkansas." That should solve their "respectable citizens" shortage.

quote:

Originally posted by AllenInWV:
Why not the jury that convicted the guy?

It might be 20, 30 or more years between the finding of guilt and the carrying out of the sentence.

I never want to witness the process, but if a tax free cash incentive was offered they may get more volunteers.

And to those saying to make it a part of or a selection process such as jury duty...that wins the batshit crazy idea of the day.
How the F in your right mind do you think it is okay, or acceptable to force someone to watch an execution?
What happens when these "forced" volunteers sue the state for emotional duress and PTSD? Or they sue the state pre execution for being forced to watch an act against their beliefs?

quote:

Originally posted by Fenris:
Why not? I once shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die.

Ha!

Is there any reason they can't use prison employees? An actual legal reason, not guesses.

Link to original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqS6CaouXwE

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
Is there any reason they can't use prison employees? An actual legal reason, not guesses.

My guess would be conflict of interest along the lines of the fox watching then chicken house. They need the witnesses to at least have the appearance of independent watch dog.

quote:

Originally posted by kz1000:
Make it like jury duty.

No. Make it a required school field trip.

quote:

Originally posted by bubbatime:

quote:

Originally posted by kz1000:
Make it like jury duty.

No. Make it a required school field trip.

WTF? Absolutely not.

I disagree. They used to hang people in the town square. EVERYONE came to watch. Including the 5 and 7 year olds. Maybe we would have a lot less snowflake if we stopped babying our kids and showed them how the world REALLY works.

Disagree all you want. There's a heck of a difference between people voluntarily bringing their kids to something(if it ever really happened to any appreciable extent) and having kids taken on school field trips.

I will admit, I don't have hard numbers, but I would bet that a tiny fraction of the US population ever witnessed a hanging "back in the day" despite it being a part of dang near every Western movie.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
Is there any reason they can't use prison employees? An actual legal reason, not guesses.

That was my first thought. Or at least the DAs or other officials that surely must be there. Assuming they are "respectable citizens" and non-felons, of course.

"Or at least the DAs or other officials that surely must be there. Assuming they are "respectable citizens" and non-felons, of course."

do DA's meet the respectable citizen threshold?

quote:

Originally posted by Fenris:

quote:

Originally posted by mikeyspizza:
You mean there aren't six, 21-year-old, respectable Arkansas residents who are not related to the family of the victims or inmates and have no felony convictions?

It is a problem.

Kind of like West Virginia's Slogan.. One big happy Family.. Really.
The Gene pool is not too deep in Arkansas.. but I bet there are enough imports.