Electrocution Essay, Research Paper
Electrocution is the Only Way
Regardless of how barbaric it may be, the electric chair should remain the source
of execution used by the state of Florida. It has served as a valid execution tool for the
last seventy-five years and there is no reason why it should not continue to do so. In the
editorial, “New ‘Old Sparky’ isn’t Acceptable,” Earl Maucker suggests that electrocution
should be replaced with lethal injection. He talks about how lethal injection is more
technologically modernized and more humane for that matter. Secondly, it is stated that
five out of seven Florida Supreme Court justices have urged lawmakers to consider an
alternative method to execution in 1997. Furthermore, thirty-two states are currently
using lethal injection as a form of execution.
This article expresses the editor’s feelings towards the electric chair. His view is
very clear stating that he is not in favor of this type of execution and would rather see it
cease existence. Furthermore, Maucker depicts the electric chair as “unconstitutional” and
suggests alternative actions such as lethal injections. Nevertheless, his view is very bias
and provides argumentative grounds for the audience at hand.
Earl Maucker has chosen to write about a controversial topic that is in the back of
most reader’s minds. Therefore, it is not very hard for him to quickly gain the interest of
several readers. However, his credibility is another issue. As a newspaper columnist for
the Sun Sentinel, Maucker has minimal credibility. As an editor, he makes this very
evident trough his use of bias opinions. He shows these one-sided beliefs through exerps
like “In a grisly report” or “Just what Florida doesn’t need: a new but almost-identical
version of its 76-year-old electric chair.” Despite the poor credibility, Maucker displays
several facts to back up his views on the subject. For example, he states that five out of
seven justices voted in favor of an alternative method to the current style of execution in
1997. In relation to the value of this argument, the author has a valid claim. However, the
electric chair is still the better execution method of the two for the state of Florida.
Florida, along with Alabama, Georgia, and Nebraska, is one of the only states left that still
uses the electric chair as a way of carrying out the death penalty. Lethal injection might be
more humane, but after committing murder, a convict deserves a fierce death penalty.
Maucker needs to take a step back from his one-sided beliefs and realize the importance of
this form of punishment.
This editorial is directed towards an educated and experienced audience. It begins
with facts about the current execution method and then flows into a very opinionated
controversial issue. The author uses simple, yet persuasive words to express his strong
beliefs about how lethal injection should be adopted. Several factual opinions are inserted
along the way to further emphasize his position. For example, he states “The electric chair
needs to be replaced, all right, but not by another electric chair.” The author uses a tone
which clearly dictates a bias opinion towards this execution method. For instance, the
quote “State officials were so ashamed of their low-tech, outmoded, barbaric,
malfunctioning and inhumane tool of execution that the replacement was done at night, in
strict secrecy.” shows his one-sided view towards this topic. The author needs to realize
that diverse views are present towards Florida’s execution method.
In conclusion, the electric chair should remain the source of execution used by the
state of Florida. After all, it has proved itself for the last seventy-five years and is very
capable of continuing to do so. Lethal injection is a more humane form of execution that
is preferred by many Florida residents as opposed to the electric chair. However, lethal
injection is the easy way out and these convicts need to experience death in a painful way.
Give back to them what they gave to the poor innocent victims that put them there in the
first place.