1 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:06,360 Speaker 1: Hey, folks, it is Friday, November fourteenth, and as this 2 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:10,680 Speaker 1: episode is being posted, a hood is being placed over 3 00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 1: a man's head in South Carolina. Three other men are 4 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:20,080 Speaker 1: standing fifteen feet away and are preparing to fire. And 5 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:23,160 Speaker 1: with that, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ. 6 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:26,319 Speaker 1: I described there what's happening robes in South Carolina in 7 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:28,800 Speaker 1: their death chamber where we are seeing, yet again, not 8 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:33,280 Speaker 1: just another execution. We are seeing specifically a firing squad 9 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:34,600 Speaker 1: execution tonight. 10 00:00:34,800 --> 00:00:39,120 Speaker 2: Yes, and this is the third execution by firing squad 11 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:42,559 Speaker 2: in the state of South Carolina this year alone. 12 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 3: There is a reason for that, and we will explain. 13 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 2: This is also the second execution of the week in 14 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 2: this country. 15 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:51,840 Speaker 3: It was supposed to be the third. 16 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:55,639 Speaker 2: And this is South Carolina's seventh execution in less than 17 00:00:55,680 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 2: fourteen months. They are right there, just behind Florida in 18 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 2: terms of the number of inmates that they are executing 19 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:06,119 Speaker 2: this year. 20 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:08,720 Speaker 1: Hook they've got the drugs they need, now, they have 21 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 1: the methods they need, and they have the governors. Quite frankly, 22 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:14,320 Speaker 1: they need to be signing these death warrants and that's 23 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:16,400 Speaker 1: why we're seeing so much of that this year. 24 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 3: Yes, his name is Stephen Bryant. 25 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:21,399 Speaker 2: He's forty four years old, and yes, he chose to 26 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:25,720 Speaker 2: die by firing squad. This will be South Carolina's fiftieth 27 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 2: inmate to be put to death since it restarted the 28 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 2: death penalty in nineteen eighty five. His crime killing three 29 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 2: people over a period of five days, and notably notoriously 30 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 2: writing catch me if you can. 31 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 3: On the wall with the blood from one of his victims. 32 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 1: Yet, this isn't one of those cases where the innocence 33 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 1: project is jumping on it necessarily questioning whether or not 34 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:52,280 Speaker 1: he committed the crime. That's not where we are. But 35 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:55,559 Speaker 1: there are still some questions and some legal questions and reasons. 36 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 1: People thought he might or should be taken off death 37 00:01:58,120 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 1: row as well. 38 00:01:58,760 --> 00:01:59,360 Speaker 3: Yes, that's right. 39 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 2: His lawyers argued that the judge who sentenced him to 40 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 2: die never took into consideration or never heard that he 41 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 2: actually suffered as an infant from fetal alcohol syndrome. 42 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:13,480 Speaker 3: Correct. 43 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:17,160 Speaker 2: So they said that his brain was severely damaged from 44 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 2: his mother's alcohol and drug use while she was pregnant 45 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:23,440 Speaker 2: with him. They took his case all the way up 46 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:25,960 Speaker 2: to the Supreme Court, but they rejected it. This week 47 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:29,520 Speaker 2: in South Carolina writing and then this was by any stretch, 48 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:35,279 Speaker 2: Bryant demonstrated a high level of planning, decision making, and calculation. 49 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:38,919 Speaker 2: So they refused to hear his appeal, and last month 50 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:41,680 Speaker 2: the US Supreme Court also refused to hear his case. 51 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:45,839 Speaker 1: This wasn't impulsive stuff, they argue, where you could say 52 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:49,079 Speaker 1: his brain wasn't functioning a certain way. It was functioning 53 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 1: just fine to plan even taunted authorities. But there was 54 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:55,240 Speaker 1: a lot of planning and trying to get away with 55 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:57,960 Speaker 1: what he was doing, which didn't signal that this was 56 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:00,240 Speaker 1: what they were saying. They said, this was just give 57 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 1: you a It might change the reason he did what 58 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:06,920 Speaker 1: he did, but it doesn't change that he did it, 59 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 1: and he's still responsible. 60 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 2: Correct someone who is so severely brain damaged to have 61 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 2: that kind of thought and planning and the decision to 62 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 2: take it up, not just obviously killing three people, but 63 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 2: then taunting authorities. 64 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 3: That takes a certain level of. 65 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:23,520 Speaker 2: Brain power that they were saying, you can't you can't 66 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 2: just pass this off as fetal alcohol syndrome. 67 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:27,119 Speaker 3: It's not gonna fly with us. 68 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:30,320 Speaker 2: But he is actually being executed for a specific killing. 69 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 2: He killed Willard TJ. Tiet Jen in his home. This 70 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 2: happened in two thousand and four, and when you hear 71 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 2: what he did, it's pretty heinous. Investigators say that Bryant 72 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 2: actually burned TJ's eyes with cigarettes after he shot him, 73 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:51,560 Speaker 2: and then took his blood and painted catch me if 74 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:55,160 Speaker 2: you can and other taunting messages for investigators and police 75 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:58,600 Speaker 2: after he killed this man. He also this was a 76 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 2: detailed dipped a potholder made by his daughter when she 77 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 2: was a child in his own blood and left it there. 78 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 2: And there was also reports of a chilling phone call 79 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 2: because TJ's daughter was calling him. She couldn't get him 80 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 2: to answer. She was calling him several times, and finally, 81 00:04:16,600 --> 00:04:22,039 Speaker 2: according to authorities, Bryant answered the phone and what he 82 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:23,880 Speaker 2: said to her is disturbing. 83 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:24,520 Speaker 3: She testified. 84 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:27,400 Speaker 2: His daughter at trial said that she testified a strange 85 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:32,160 Speaker 2: voice finally answered and said you can't I killed him. 86 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:33,960 Speaker 3: And she replied, this isn't funny. 87 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:34,400 Speaker 1: Here were you? 88 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 2: And he said I'm the prowler and she said, excuse me, 89 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:40,479 Speaker 2: who are you? And she said, he just repeated I'm 90 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:41,560 Speaker 2: the prowler. 91 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:46,320 Speaker 1: Again. This is not that case where people are questioning 92 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:51,280 Speaker 1: and wondering and guilt and evidence mishandled and didn't get 93 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 1: the right to turn. This isn't one of those things, 94 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:57,279 Speaker 1: like you said, he's being executed for a specific crime, 95 00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:01,720 Speaker 1: but he's taken at least three he confirmed killed, but 96 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:02,960 Speaker 1: he was talking about you killed more. 97 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:03,840 Speaker 3: Yes, exactly. 98 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:07,320 Speaker 2: So prosecutors say, right now, what they know of is 99 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:10,599 Speaker 2: he shot and killed two men that he was giving 100 00:05:10,760 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 2: rides to. So essentially it sounds like they may he 101 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:15,960 Speaker 2: may have picked them up, but they needed a ride, 102 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:18,880 Speaker 2: and according to police, when they stepped out of his 103 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 2: truck to use the restroom, he shot and killed them 104 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 2: for no apparent reason. So and they talk about how 105 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:31,080 Speaker 2: this truly terrorized this area of South Carolina, Sumter County 106 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 2: over a period of five days. But the execution is 107 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:38,279 Speaker 2: for that specific case. You were asking me, is he 108 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:44,560 Speaker 2: now considered a serial killer? Is what is the classification 109 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:47,039 Speaker 2: for somebody who does this sort of thing? And I 110 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 2: actually looked up the FBI criteria. It was interesting. I 111 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 2: didn't realize this. Do you know the difference between a 112 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:55,839 Speaker 2: mass murder, a spree killer, and a serial killer. 113 00:05:57,080 --> 00:06:02,679 Speaker 1: It's time. It's just a matter of how much time passes. 114 00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:04,599 Speaker 1: We know what a mass killing. Everybody's familiar with that 115 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:07,559 Speaker 1: at this point. A spree killing is a short period 116 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:09,600 Speaker 1: of time, a serial killer is a longer period of time, 117 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 1: and that's kind of it. 118 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, I didn't realize it. Obviously it's two 119 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:15,600 Speaker 2: or more to have, obviously being more than just a 120 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 2: typical homicide, but I didn't realize. Yeah, it's the cooling 121 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 2: off period that they describe as the difference between a 122 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:24,719 Speaker 2: spree killer and a serial killer. A serial killer actually 123 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:28,240 Speaker 2: takes as much as a month off in between killings. 124 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 2: A spree killer just is on a role, so to 125 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:33,560 Speaker 2: speak to lack of a better term, And so this 126 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 2: happened over a five day period of time, and so 127 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 2: they technically are referring to him as a spree killer. 128 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 2: I was not familiar with the distinction among those three 129 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:47,120 Speaker 2: types of killers. When we come back, we're going to 130 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:49,839 Speaker 2: talk about We mentioned he chose the firing squad, so 131 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:54,360 Speaker 2: did two other inmates. That doesn't seem like something someone 132 00:06:54,400 --> 00:06:58,080 Speaker 2: would choose, but there is a very real reason why 133 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:01,000 Speaker 2: these inmates chose to die by firing squad, and we'll 134 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:04,279 Speaker 2: tell you why and how it's all going to take place, 135 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 2: and continuing our conversation about what is happening right now, 136 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 2: actually in South Carolina as you're listening to this, forty 137 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:24,120 Speaker 2: four year old Stephen Bryant has chosen to die by 138 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 2: firing squad scheduled at six pm Eastern time tonight on Friday. 139 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:30,240 Speaker 3: He lost all of his appeals. 140 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:34,240 Speaker 2: This is somebody who police say is a spree killer, 141 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 2: killed at least three people, but is dying over a 142 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 2: very specific murder of. 143 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:44,280 Speaker 3: A man. It was a heinous killing. Willard TJ. 144 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 2: Tanjin in his own home and taunted authorities by writing 145 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 2: messages in his victim's blood on the wall for them 146 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:56,160 Speaker 2: to see. But he has chosen to die by firing squad. 147 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:58,160 Speaker 2: The third man, as we mentioned, to die by fire 148 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:01,600 Speaker 2: squad in the state of South Carolina. The last one 149 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:04,240 Speaker 2: we saw was in April, and before that in March, 150 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 2: and before that, the firing squad had not been used 151 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:11,280 Speaker 2: since twenty ten. But there's a reason why it's back, 152 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 2: and that is because South Carolina was among those states 153 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:20,160 Speaker 2: that had trouble getting the drug that they needed to 154 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:24,440 Speaker 2: perform lethal injections. And then of course there was all 155 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:26,800 Speaker 2: of that controversy about how humane it was that the 156 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:29,360 Speaker 2: drugs were being given in the wrong order, or weren't 157 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:31,200 Speaker 2: the right amount, or weren't the right drugs, and so 158 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:35,800 Speaker 2: that inmates who were being executed were dying in a 159 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 2: cruel and unusual way. That it was they were suffering, 160 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:42,560 Speaker 2: so to speak. I didn't realize this. South Carolina had 161 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:46,719 Speaker 2: a long hiatus, did you. They just reinstated the death 162 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 2: penalty last year, or at least resumed executions last year. 163 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's in a dozen years. They at least they've 164 00:08:54,280 --> 00:08:57,240 Speaker 1: held off. That's a that's a pretty good build up 165 00:08:57,440 --> 00:08:59,960 Speaker 1: of death row inmates if your stop executions. 166 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 2: Yes, yeah, So they had an unintentional, as how they 167 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:05,319 Speaker 2: described it, thirteen year hiatus. 168 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:08,000 Speaker 3: They couldn't get the drugs needed for lethal injection. 169 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:11,800 Speaker 2: The companies didn't or certain companies didn't want to provide it, 170 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:13,880 Speaker 2: who had certain feelings about the death penalty. 171 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:16,480 Speaker 1: A lot of places had these problems that combined with 172 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 1: court rulings about this being cruel and unusual, so they 173 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:22,920 Speaker 1: just held off. A lot of folks stopped. So, yeah, 174 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:27,840 Speaker 1: they started giving inmates the option of a firing squad, 175 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 1: and they have been taking that option. It was this, 176 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:36,000 Speaker 1: it was a firing squad. It was electric chair or 177 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:39,200 Speaker 1: lethal injection and he needed to give an answer because 178 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 1: they were going to pick for them, and they were 179 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:43,960 Speaker 1: going to pick the old school method. It defaults to 180 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:47,280 Speaker 1: the electric chair if you don't pick something, So we 181 00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:50,319 Speaker 1: chose the firing squad. Look, we've seen several reports and 182 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:52,360 Speaker 1: I'm sure he's aware of them as well as lawyers are, 183 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 1: that some of those lethal injections, even in this year, 184 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:59,839 Speaker 1: recent years, they sound horrible. They sound like a horrible experience. Look, 185 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:02,560 Speaker 1: dyeing like this has to be uncomfortable to a certain degree, 186 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:06,000 Speaker 1: but they just it seems like there's a lot of 187 00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:07,920 Speaker 1: pain and discomfort in those. 188 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:12,599 Speaker 2: Yes, by all accounts, because when you have these executions, 189 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:15,360 Speaker 2: you have witnesses, and so they come out, they speak 190 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:17,920 Speaker 2: to reporters and they tell people what they saw. And 191 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:21,079 Speaker 2: we have seen numerous reports over the years of reporters 192 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:26,319 Speaker 2: describing inmates suffering before they die. Now, we also there 193 00:10:26,360 --> 00:10:27,720 Speaker 2: was an issue with the firing squad. 194 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:31,440 Speaker 1: Correct, Yeah, they if you miss the target, if you will, 195 00:10:31,480 --> 00:10:36,000 Speaker 1: there was one there, it's designed to actually just shred 196 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:38,680 Speaker 1: and rip the heart apart as quickly as possible for 197 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:41,200 Speaker 1: you to die. But if you're off a little bit, 198 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:44,360 Speaker 1: which was the allegation, I can't remember which one it was, 199 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:47,960 Speaker 1: but yes, it took someone longer to die because it 200 00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 1: had to go through more of a process of filling 201 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 1: up the lungs with blood. And it was a longer 202 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:55,559 Speaker 1: death because it didn't hit the target. So you got 203 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:59,480 Speaker 1: three people there firing at a target on right smack 204 00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 1: dab on the heart and fifteen feet away volunteers. 205 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:06,560 Speaker 2: They say they are now do all three have bullets 206 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:09,240 Speaker 2: or does just one have bullet? And among the three 207 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 2: they don't know which one fired the fatal shop. 208 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:14,440 Speaker 1: I believe they're all loaded. That's something we see right 209 00:11:15,040 --> 00:11:15,640 Speaker 1: in movies. 210 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:18,320 Speaker 3: Yes, that's why I was saying that we all. 211 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:20,920 Speaker 1: Three of these I believe are live rounds. 212 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 2: Yes, and the fact that the state also has an 213 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:26,439 Speaker 2: electric chair is quite aery. Now this is in Colombia. 214 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:28,640 Speaker 2: This is the exact I don't know if it's the 215 00:11:28,679 --> 00:11:30,480 Speaker 2: exact same room, and I don't know where they do 216 00:11:30,559 --> 00:11:33,040 Speaker 2: the firing squo, but this is where I witnessed a 217 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:36,880 Speaker 2: lethal injection in Colombia. At god, this had to be 218 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:41,720 Speaker 2: back in the early nineteen nineties, but certainly it is. 219 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 2: You take a vow of silence, you take a bus 220 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:48,520 Speaker 2: out to this separate facility, and it is a solemn event, 221 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 2: regardless of how you feel about the death penalty. This 222 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 2: is something that everyone takes seriously who takes part in 223 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:58,400 Speaker 2: this type of execution. But outside of South Carolina, I 224 00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:01,760 Speaker 2: didn't realize this. Do you know how rare, rare firing 225 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:02,439 Speaker 2: squads have been? 226 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:06,839 Speaker 1: Yeah, only Utah has carried it out only before South 227 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:09,040 Speaker 1: Carolina started this year, and I think it was three 228 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:11,080 Speaker 1: since seventy six. 229 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:12,520 Speaker 3: Yes, and you just nailed it. 230 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:15,439 Speaker 2: Yes, only three prisoners in the United States have been 231 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:18,559 Speaker 2: executed by firing squads since yeah, nineteen seventy seven, and 232 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:22,640 Speaker 2: they were all in this state of Utah and most recently, yeah, 233 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:25,640 Speaker 2: twenty ten. So this year has been a heck of 234 00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:28,480 Speaker 2: a year for South Carolina using that firing squad three 235 00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:33,360 Speaker 2: different times, happening again today, and you know, it's it's 236 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:36,280 Speaker 2: a I can't imagine being asked. And we've had folks 237 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:41,040 Speaker 2: who say they want one method of execution and then 238 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:43,160 Speaker 2: get scared because they hear a story, there's a report 239 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:46,120 Speaker 2: there have been so many executions this year that they 240 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:48,200 Speaker 2: try to change their mind and the state won't let them. 241 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:51,520 Speaker 2: Once you've made your call about what or how you 242 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:53,960 Speaker 2: want to die, you kind of have to stick with it. 243 00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 1: And that makes sense because a lot of preparation has 244 00:12:57,679 --> 00:13:00,600 Speaker 1: to go into this, and that makes sense that general 245 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:02,280 Speaker 1: might kind of remember which state. But yeah, he made 246 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:05,600 Speaker 1: the argument he chose lethal injection, but he he uses 247 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:08,920 Speaker 1: that as a grounds of trying to get clemency. Was saying, hey, 248 00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:11,360 Speaker 1: there was a lot of information I didn't know about 249 00:13:11,360 --> 00:13:14,360 Speaker 1: this ahead of time. Well that's just sol at that point, 250 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:17,640 Speaker 1: but yeah, it's it's some of the details about the 251 00:13:17,760 --> 00:13:22,319 Speaker 1: experiences some folks have and how long they've been alive afterwards, 252 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:25,160 Speaker 1: how long they were uncomfortable, the way their bodies were gyrating, 253 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 1: heads going up. One guy even said that Buck can't 254 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:30,600 Speaker 1: remember the quote, but we told them, hey, I am 255 00:13:30,640 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 1: in pain. This hurts so bad while it's going on. 256 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:38,360 Speaker 1: So the firing squad is terrifying. I would prefer you 257 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:42,120 Speaker 1: all to shoot me in the heart then to go 258 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:43,640 Speaker 1: through just a. 259 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:46,360 Speaker 3: Needle in my arm. 260 00:13:46,679 --> 00:13:49,480 Speaker 2: That goes to show the level of fear that has 261 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:52,120 Speaker 2: now arisen around lethal injection. 262 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:53,360 Speaker 3: But I thought it was pretty interesting. 263 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 2: A couple weeks back, and again, we have been covering 264 00:13:56,000 --> 00:14:00,320 Speaker 2: executions quite extensively because there have been a record nonumber 265 00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:03,200 Speaker 2: of executions this year. It is staggering the number we 266 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:06,880 Speaker 2: have had this year versus in years past. But one judge, 267 00:14:07,360 --> 00:14:10,080 Speaker 2: in reading an appeal from someone trying to say, hey, 268 00:14:10,360 --> 00:14:13,760 Speaker 2: can you commute my death penalty to life in prison 269 00:14:14,040 --> 00:14:18,079 Speaker 2: saying in citing this unfair pain, this cruel, unusual punishment, 270 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:21,680 Speaker 2: and the judge said, if you're going to die, you 271 00:14:21,760 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 2: have to expect a reasonable amount of pain that comes 272 00:14:24,640 --> 00:14:26,960 Speaker 2: with death. You can't escape it. So that was not 273 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 2: an argument in her mind, and I thought it was 274 00:14:29,240 --> 00:14:32,600 Speaker 2: actually a fairly logical point she's making. If you are 275 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:35,560 Speaker 2: going to die, most people don't get to die without pain. 276 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:39,080 Speaker 2: You are not any you know, any different than anyone else. 277 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:42,200 Speaker 2: This is expected, This is what comes with death. 278 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:46,160 Speaker 1: Cruel and unusual doesn't mean comfortable, And that's you have 279 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:48,040 Speaker 1: to We're deciding to kill somebody, and I want to 280 00:14:48,040 --> 00:14:50,800 Speaker 1: make sure you're as comfortable as possible. I know, here's 281 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 1: a nice pillow. Now it's not exactly so that judge, 282 00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 1: the one you're talking about, I remember, and all these 283 00:14:56,880 --> 00:14:59,680 Speaker 1: arguments and all this stuff we read. It was very 284 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:02,200 Speaker 1: plain spoken and I appreciated it. 285 00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:05,000 Speaker 2: Yes, And sometimes that's what it takes you've got, you know, 286 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 2: all of these You've got lengthy appeals processes for all 287 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:10,400 Speaker 2: of these inmates to try and make sure that their 288 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:15,440 Speaker 2: due process was correctly and stated. However, it's you see 289 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:17,840 Speaker 2: these last minute appeals. No one wants to die. Very 290 00:15:17,880 --> 00:15:20,720 Speaker 2: few people go into that death chamber, even though they've 291 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:23,000 Speaker 2: committed the crimes they've done, Even those who have admitted 292 00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:25,600 Speaker 2: the heinous crimes that they have committed. Very few do 293 00:15:25,680 --> 00:15:28,960 Speaker 2: we see anyone just go in and say I deserve this, 294 00:15:29,400 --> 00:15:31,400 Speaker 2: let's get this over with. They fight like hell to 295 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 2: the very end to try and stop it overwhelmingly. 296 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:35,560 Speaker 1: But I know you remember too. It was the guy. 297 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:38,840 Speaker 1: He's the only one in Floyda. It was the one 298 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:41,360 Speaker 1: before this one. He's the only guy in Florida this 299 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:46,160 Speaker 1: year to skip all of the appeals. He just said, Nah, 300 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 1: well can't remember his name. But he's the only one 301 00:15:49,160 --> 00:15:50,960 Speaker 1: involved this year who has done that. 302 00:15:51,360 --> 00:15:51,640 Speaker 2: Wow. 303 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:55,760 Speaker 1: So yes, it's incredibly rare, and why yeah, you think, 304 00:15:55,800 --> 00:15:57,440 Speaker 1: But when it comes to the end, when your time 305 00:15:57,520 --> 00:15:59,320 Speaker 1: is up, you can see these folks are fighting to 306 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:01,720 Speaker 1: stay alive. They are human nature. 307 00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:03,320 Speaker 3: It is human nature. That's a good way to put it. 308 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:07,440 Speaker 2: But yes, so far forty two people and he will 309 00:16:07,480 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 2: be number forty three. Last year, by the way, twenty 310 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:13,880 Speaker 2: five in all of twenty twenty four. So this has 311 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:16,840 Speaker 2: been an exceptional year and we've been bringing you all 312 00:16:16,840 --> 00:16:17,440 Speaker 2: the details. 313 00:16:17,640 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 1: Believe it's five I think scheduled for December, so. 314 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:23,080 Speaker 3: We have more to come. 315 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:26,560 Speaker 2: But we'll see what twenty twenty six springs. But there 316 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:28,640 Speaker 2: are a lot of folks who are already scheduled. We've 317 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:31,600 Speaker 2: already seen the list growing for next year. This is 318 00:16:31,840 --> 00:16:34,120 Speaker 2: not going away anytime soon, regardless of how you feel. 319 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:37,680 Speaker 2: This is how we deal with our most violent offenders 320 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:39,880 Speaker 2: in this country. And with that everyone, thank you for 321 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 2: joining us. I'm am Roboch alongside TJ. 322 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:44,120 Speaker 3: Holmes. Hope you have a nice night.