America isn't number one at anything good anymore

[wiffleball 4,645]

, England (AP) -- China reduced the number of executions it carried out last year but still executed more people than any other country in the world, Amnesty International said Tuesday in its annual report on the death penalty worldwide.

 

Iran remains the country with the second-highest number of executions, with 377 killings that included a man stoned for adultery, the human rights group said.

 

The number of American executions fell to its lowest level in about 15 years, putting it fifth in the world with 42, Amnesty officials said.

 

Amnesty analysts said that early in 2007 China reformed the way capital cases are handled, leading to a substantial reduction in executions. They said at least 470 people were put to death, from 1,010 in 2006. But they cautioned that the actual number is undoubtedly higher, and warned that any drop may be temporary.

 

Piers Bannister, a death penalty researcher at Amnesty, said the group fears that the slowdown is only a "logjam" that will lead to a rise in executions once a review by China's top court of all capital cases is concluded.

 

The Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing did not respond to requests for comment on the findings in the Amnesty report. The ministry has said in the past that Amnesty is "biased and hostile toward China."

 

More than 60 offenses in China are punishable by the death penalty, including drug trafficking and embezzlement, Bannister said.

 

Amnesty reported that three countries -- Iran, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia -- put people under the age of 18 to death, the youngest a 13-year-old executed in Iran in April.

 

Amnesty's report cited research by other groups claiming the number of people put to death in China was much higher, with some research indicating that as many as 6,000 people may have been executed in 2007. Death penalty figures are treated as a state secret in China.

 

In all, at least 3,347 people were sentenced to death in 51 countries, and as many as 27,500 people are estimated to be on death row, Amnesty said.

 

Oh this is just ridiculous. We lead the world in % of our population behind bars. We could only find 42 of them to kill? WTF??

 

Phillybear kills 42 people before breakfast.

[Bert 1,092]

Oh this is just ridiculous. We lead the world in % of our population behind bars. We could only find 42 of them to kill? WTF??

 

Phillybear kills 42 people before breakfast.

 

Thank the Liberals and the Lawyers.

[$epphori$ 118]

I thought we were number one in taxes and starting wars

[TD Ryan2 314]

Thank the Liberals and the Lawyers.

 

 

yup.

If we'd have just killed 'em, we'd have enough cash for 10 Shock and Awe's.

[Bert 1,092]

yup.

If we'd have just killed 'em, we'd have enough cash for 10 Shock and Awe's.

 

And enough to bail out the focktards making 60K a year that some how magically thought they could afford a $400K home.

[TD Ryan2 314]

And enough to bail out the focktards making 60K a year that some how magically thought they could afford a $400K home.

 

wow. now that you put it that way, I'm no longer for the Death Penalty. I'd rather see that $60k/year over-spender rot in bankruptcy and foreclosure.

[Bert 1,092]

wow. now that you put it that way, I'm no longer for the Death Penalty. I'd rather see that $60k/year over-spender rot in bankruptcy and foreclosure.

 

Rot?!? Hell no. Kill them along with the criminals.

[NorthernVike 2,080]

Amnesty reported that three countries -- Iran, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia -- put people under the age of 18 to death, the youngest a 13-year-old executed in Iran in April.

 

 

 

Anyone surprised that all three countries fall under the "Religion of Peace"

[wiffleball 4,645]

Anyone surprised that all three countries fall under the "Religion of Peace"

 

 

Anyone surprised that "The Land of the Free" has a bigger percentage of its population in jail, prison or parole than any other country in the world??

[wiffleball 4,645]

Okay, FINALLY something to shake me from my Phillybearishness:

 

 

 

Of the 42 executions carried out in 2007, TEXAS killed 26 of them.

 

62% baby! Do we have to do ALL the heavy lifting for you northern yankee liberals??

[dain11279 928]

Phillybear kills 42 people and has them for breakfast.

 

Fixored.

[GobbleDog 816]

death penalty

[GettnHuge 1]

We're still #1 in pron, right?