Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Texas: 400 executions: testament to the influence of the state’s conservative evangelical Christians [and culture]

Religion, culture behind Texas execution tally | Lone Star State’s death penalty toll due in part to evangelical influences | Updated: 1:31 p.m. CT Aug 15, 2007

DALLAS - Texas will almost certainly hit the grim total of 400 executions this month, far ahead of any other state, testament to the influence of the state’s conservative evangelical Christians and its cultural mix of Old South and Wild West.

“In Texas you have all the elements lined up. Public support, a governor that supports it and supportive courts,” said Richard Dieter, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center.

“If any of those things are hesitant then the process slows down,” said Dieter. “With all cylinders working as in Texas it produces a lot of executions.” ...

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