An example: Your aging father has one more glass of wine at dinner than usual, and when driving home, forgets to turn on his headlights. He’s stopped, the cop smells alcohol, and he’s arrested for DUI. He takes seven prescription medications each morning and night, but while in custody he can’t access them, even when you try to bring them. The next day, he’s dead. A minor crime, no judge, no jury, just the state as his executioner.
It’s not the exact scenario in every one of the 15 times this year the state has executed someone in custody; we don’t know what happens, because those in charge settle the lawsuits using state funds and demand silence. Is this the government we deserve?
— Frank Cahill
Anchorage
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