A new North Carolina lawmaker has suggested that public hangings should resume in response to a death-row prisoner's description of living the high life while incarcerated.
N.C. Rep. Larry Pittman, R-Cabarrus, was responding to a letter recently sent to The Gaston Gazette by Central Prison inmate Danny Hembree, who wrote of watching TV and taking naps while awaiting execution for the murder of Heather Catterton, 17.
"Kill me if you can, suckers," Hembree wrote in the letter.
Pittman, who was appointed to the House in October, told WRAL-TV he got a little carried away while expressing frustration and anger about Hembree. He said the email was only supposed to go to one House member, but he pressed "reply all" by mistake and it went out to all state lawmakers.
"If murderers (and I would include abortionists, rapists, and kidnappers, as well) are actually executed, it will at least have the deterrent effect upon them," Pittman wrote Wednesday, adding, "for my money, we should go back to public hangings, which would be more of a deterrent to others, as well."
He did not immediately return a phone call or email Friday from The Associated Press.
Pittman was responding to an email from Rep. Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, who pointed out to colleagues a news report on the letter. In the email, Moore said it was proof that death penalty laws need to be fixed to carry out executions and asked for comments.
"I felt a need to 'vent' some of these feelings and intended to do so to him alone," Pittman told the television station. "In the process, I got a bit carried away and overstated my case. I am sure I am not the only one who has ever done that."
Pittman said he regretted that a "personal note" to another House member took the focus off the victim, her family and the need to provide them with justice.
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