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Death Row Executioner Reveals What It Feels Like To End Someone's Life

Death Row Executioner Reveals What It Feels Like To End Someone's Life

“I cannot put into words the anxiety I felt about the possibility of a botched procedure.”

Mel Ramsay

Mel Ramsay

The idea of ending someone else's life is, for most of us, horrifying. However, for those who live in countries with capital punishment, it's a necessity.

Now, Vietnam veteran Semon Frank Thompson has opened up about how it feels to kill someone. He was the superintendent of the Oregon State Penitentiary back in 1994. However, he only ever performed two executions. That's probably enough to haunt you for the rest of your life.

He wrote in The New York Times: "...during my interview for the superintendent job, I was asked if I would be willing to conduct an execution. I said yes."

However, shortly afterwards he was charged with executing two inmates on death row, Douglas Franklin Wright and Harry Charles Moore. Wright was given the death penalty for killing three homeless men, later admitting that he'd also killed a 10-year-old boy. Moore had been convicted of killing his half-sister and her former husband. Both men had given up on any appeals.

Thompson continued: "Regardless of their crimes, the fact that I was now to be personally involved in their executions forced me into a deeper reckoning with my feelings about capital punishment. After much contemplation, I became convinced that, on a moral level, life was either hallowed or it wasn't. And I wanted it to be."

He revealed that his feelings towards capital punishment had now changed, and he made it clear to his colleagues that if anyone chose not to be involved, he would respect their decision. However, as superintendent, he was the only person who contractually had to be involved.

The teams rehearsed for the executions for over a month, and the executions took place eight months apart. This meant that he thought of nothing but the two prisoners' death sentences for a whole year.

Continuing, Thompson wrote: "I cannot put into words the anxiety I felt about the possibility of a botched procedure. I wasn't certain how my staff would fare."

The execution sounds horrific as prison staff are responsible for strapping the prisoner down, administering the injection and generally overseeing the death of another person.

"After each execution, I had staff members who decided they did not want to serve in that capacity again," said Thompson.

"A few told me they were having trouble sleeping, and I worried they would develop post-traumatic stress disorder if they had to go through it another time."


Credit: PA Images

In conclusion, he wrote that as a result of being responsible for someone else's death, some prison staff end up 'giving up some of their empathy and humanity' while some stresses can lead to drug use, alcohol abuse, depression and even suicide.

He retired in 2010, but believes that capital punishment continues to grind on, 'out of sight of society' but believes that we'd be stronger without it.

Featured image credit: PA Images

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Topics: Death Row