Saturday, May 19, 2012
Lawmakers in North Carolina want to prohibit inmates on death row from watching television.
The legislation, which cleared the state’s House Rules committee this week, was introduced after a convicted murderer described his “life of leisure” while awaiting execution.
Danny Robbie Hembree Jr., convicted of killing 17-year-old Heather Catterton in 2009, wrote a letter to the Gaston Gazette challenging the government to put him to death.
“Is the public aware that I am a gentleman of leisure, watching color TV in the (air conditioning), reading, taking naps at will, eating three well balanced hot meals a day ... Kill me if you can, suckers,” Hembree wrote.
As an alternative to revoking TV privileges, House Republican leader Skip Stam suggested that inmates be forced to watch Sesame Street, while House Democratic leader Joe Hackney countered that the punishment should be watching Fox News.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
To Learn More:
Death Row Inmates May Lose Cable TV (by Rosella Age, Raleigh News Observer)
Killer Says NC Death Row Not So Bad (by Diane Turbyfill, Gaston Gazette)
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