Terry Schiavo Death Sentence is Unjust

[Brad]

Great editorial by Florida state senator Daniel Webster in the USA Today.

There are potentially only a few days left.

Please email Webster with your support:

webster.daniel.web@flsenate.gov

'Death sentence' is unjust
By Daniel Webster

By any definition, Terri Schiavo is alive. She has now been issued a death sentence by the courts.
"Terri's Law" was enacted in October 2003, when a disabled and brain-damaged woman was being starved to death by judicial order in Florida. Terri Schiavo had collapsed in her apartment from lack of oxygen in 1990 at age 26.

Terri had never executed a written living will. There were questions regarding whether the judges in this case had actually followed Florida law. There were differing statements given in court about her end-of-life wishes. There was conflicting medical testimony as to whether rehabilitation could help Terri. This was the climate in which Terri's Law was enacted by the Legislature and signed by the governor.

Florida citizens were justifiably concerned that an innocent, disabled Florida woman was being put to death by court order under extremely questionable and horrific circumstances. If the proceedings that led up to the execution of serial-killer Ted Bundy had been handled in the same way, Bundy's conviction would have been overturned.

Capital felons on trial for their lives in Florida are entitled to independent counsel, competent representation, trial by jury and automatic review of their death-penalty case by the Florida Supreme Court. Yet Terri, utterly innocent of any wrongdoing, received none of these protections.

Additionally, had Bundy been ordered to die slowly by starvation and dehydration (as Terri likely will), his penalty would assuredly have been reversed by the courts as "cruel and unusual" punishment.

The governor has the ability, in a criminal death sentence, to grant clemency. The Legislature only sought to extend the same protection to Terri Schiavo.

The legislative and executive branches have equally important roles to play in protecting the handicapped. The state's duty is to preserve life, not arbitrarily end it.

Florida State Sen. Daniel Webster, R-Winter Garden, was sponsor of the "Terri's Law" legislation.


http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion...o-oppose_x.htm

[jrabs]

It is unjust and she needs many prayers. Those who wish to carry out this sentence, including Michael Schiavo, need prayers as well. That God may soften their hearts and hear His voice.

[Marie]

Originally Posted by jrabs

It is unjust and she needs many prayers. Those who wish to carry out this sentence, including Michael Schiavo, need prayers as well. That God may soften their hearts and hear His voice.

Amen! I am praying for all concerned. Terry is being murdered by those who know not what they do. May God have mercy on their souls.

[Scott_Lafrance]

If I were Jeb Bush, I would order the National Guard to protect her and maintain her feeding apparatus until an appeal was made to the SCOTUS. Even if it meant my own personally convictiona nd imprisonment for wrongful use of force.

[Brad]

Originally Posted by Scott_Lafrance

If I were Jeb Bush, I would order the National Guard to protect her and maintain her feeding apparatus until an appeal was made to the SCOTUS. Even if it meant my own personally convictiona nd imprisonment for wrongful use of force.

I agree. Whatever it takes. Especially in light of the judicial decision on Terri's Law - which basically said a law that was the will of the people, passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, was unconstitutional because...... it trumped a previous judicial decision.

Are you kidding me? Isn't that how the separation of powers is supposed to work for a country that is run by "We the People"?

The judicial branch has overstepped its bounds. The executive branch has every right to do what is necessary to protect her.

[Scott Waddell]

Prayers going up. I wonder if there is any other precedent for this in history. All previous history is full of war of the living against the living, but I can't think of anything like this which is a war of the living against Life itself.


Scott

[Lisa4Catholics]

Originally Posted by Brad

I agree. Whatever it takes. Especially in light of the judicial decision on Terri's Law - which basically said a law that was the will of the people, passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, was unconstitutional because...... it trumped a previous judicial decision.

Are you kidding me? Isn't that how the separation of powers is supposed to work for a country that is run by "We the People"?

The judicial branch has overstepped its bounds. The executive branch has every right to do what is necessary to protect her.

The court is getting better and better at over stepping bounds They are declaring murder legal again