Monday, July 7 Last week, lawyers for Leo Jones, who is on death row for the murder of a police officer, had Florida's 74-year-old electric chair tested for a third time. A three-day hearing starts this week on whether the state should abandon Old Sparky after March's fiery execution in which sparks shot from behind Pedro Medina's mask. Jones' lawyers will argue this week that Florida's electric chair represents cruel and unusual punishment and its use should be discontinued. Do you agree or disagree? Here's what you said. Florida's electric chair represents cruel and unusual punishment and its use should be discontinued. If the person is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, he should pay for the crime. If the Electric chair is cruel and unusual punishment, what happens to the victims? It seems that what happens to them does not matter. Mark Dugenske markd@fdl.fdldotnet.com Berlin, Wisconsin It is apparent that the lawyers for Inmate Jones have exhausted all means of proving his innocence so now it is time to focus on other means to keep him alive. There is no moral or humane way to execute a living creature. Being once a twelve-year member of the correctional profession I have witnessed first hand the problems faced by our society in dealing with confinement and death row inmates. I met two individuals who work at the Florida State Prison and they shared their experiences with me on executions. Both have participated in escorting a condemed man to the chair and the escort by itself is enough to bring chills to even the most experienced officers. There is no humanity in the whole process. If the issue is that the age of the chair is what's causing the sparks to fly, let the inmates build a new one. Once a person has been sentenced to die, cruel and unusual punishment should not be a consideration. Give the condemed individual a choice of by what means he or she will be executed. Those in use by the states that do execute. Richard J. Ferrick RicFerrick@aol.com Panama City, Florida I disagree and feel any state should #1, Keep the Death Penalty, #2, Make the Punishment as bad as it can be and possibly Televise any and all executions. This is the only way to deter capital crimes. John McMurray murray@bright.net Ashland, Ohio What was cruel and unusual punishment was the act of violence these people on death row commited. The only thing they should change is the amount of time they get to sit and wait. I say kill them sooner, they eat up American tax dollars getting a warm bed and 3 meals a day. The people on death row are treated better then the homeless. I say don't change a thing. Susan C. Westrich Wassi@swol.de Weilheim, Germany When a person is convicted of first degree murder and has utilized the appeals process, they must be assumed to be guilty of having flaunted their disrespect for the most fundamental of society's prohibitions. It is then the prerogative, and I would say duty, of society to exact the extreme penalty. Execution for the crime of murder is neither cruel nor unusual. Such total disregard for the life of another member of society requires capital punishment. Phil Sexton philsexton@panamacity.com Back to Question of the Day © 1997 The News Herald