- Lawmakers in Tennessee discussed a bill that would allow prisoners to be executed by firing squad.
- At the meeting, Representative Paul Sherrell suggested lynching as another possible method of execution.
- After fierce resistance, Sherrell apologized, saying he was “using very poor judgment”.
A Tennessee lawmaker issued a public apology Wednesday after suggesting “hanging from a tree” as a method of execution. Nashville Tennessee reported that.
In a statement, State Representative Paul Sherrell of Sparta said his “exaggerated comments were intended to convey my belief that for the cruelest and most heinous crimes, a just society requires the death penalty in kind,” the outlet reported.
“While a victim’s family cannot be restored when an execution is carried out, a lesser sentence undermines the value we place on the protection of life. My intention was to show my support for families who often wait decades for justice. I sincerely apologize to anyone who may have been hurt or offended,” the statement said.
Sherrell made the comment during a meeting of the House Criminal Justice Committee on Tuesday, as lawmakers debated an amendment to a bill that would allow death row inmates to be executed by firing squad — a method not currently allowed in the state.
“I was just wondering if I could introduce an amendment to that that would include hanging from a tree,” Sherrell early, according to Nashville Tennessean. He also offered to co-sponsor the state law.
His comments sparked huge reactions. Ben Crump, a civil rights attorney known for representing the families of George Floyd and Tire Nichols, tweeted Thursday: “This is UNREAL! … How can a government official in 2023 allow such a grotesque suggestion to come out of his mouth?!”
Sherrell did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.
a independent report published late last year found flaws in how death row inmates in the state were executed by lethal injection.
Several state representatives this week said they believed a firing squad would be the most humane way to be executed. The bill has been forwarded to the Finance Committee, This is reported by CBS News.
