A Day in Paradise

California Executes Oldest Inmate - Yahoo! News

Is it just me or is this story absurd?

Allen, who was blind and mostly deaf, suffered from diabetes and had a nearly fatal heart attack in September only to be revived and returned to death row, was assisted into the death chamber by four large correctional officers and lifted out of his wheelchair.

His lawyers had raised two claims never before endorsed by the high court: that executing a frail old man would violate the Constitution’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment, and that the 23 years he spent on death row were unconstitutionally cruel as well.

How can executing a 76 year old man be considered a punishment at all? It’s just revenge, not justice.