Locals weigh in on death penalty procedures

La. could resume electric chair use
February 5, 2014
In praise of Fred and his kin
February 5, 2014
La. could resume electric chair use
February 5, 2014
In praise of Fred and his kin
February 5, 2014

If Louisiana does ever seek to use the electric chair for executions during this legislative session, the likely author of the bill to do so has at least one local ally.

And then some.


State Rep. Gordon Dove (R-Houma) said it doesn’t much matter to him how executions are carried out so long as the process is legal.

And another local official – although not a legislator – is perfectly fine with that idea, or other alternatives.

“It doesn’t matter to me exactly how they really die,” said Dove. “They caused another human being’s death. At the end of the day you are going to see your Maker so it doesn’t matter with lethal injection or the electric chair claim you. We worry about how long it takes these people died. Well how long was it before the victim died?”

State Rep. Joseph Lopinto (R-District 80) says he is willing to file a bill returning electrocution as the lawful manner of execution in Louisiana because of difficulty the state has obtaining narcotics currently used to do the job.

The electric chair itself was introduced because it was thought more humane than hanging. But hanging in the minds of some people is not a bad idea. Like electrocution, it has not been declared cruel and unusual punishment.

Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Jerry Larpenter says that method would be fine with him.


“I don’t care,” Larpenter said regarding the potential return of the electric chair, then after ruminating he declared, “I believe just hang ‘em. That’s quicker. I don’t see nothing wrong with public hanging. If people want to go see it let them see it, hang them at Angola. Didn’t they hang Saddam Hussein?”