Texas Publishes Last Words of Executed Persons

I was surprised to learn that the State of Texas publishes the last words of executed persons.  Seems somewhat macabre. Though I suppose that everything related to this topic is inescapably morbid.

Reading just a very few of these statements leaves me arrestingly uneasy.  One maintained innocence. Another reiterated that his actions were taken in self-defense.  This poor soul was surprised to learn that people were there to witness his execution.

To me, the debate over whether capital punishment is moral or immoral is irrelevant. That some death row convicts have been proven innocent is enough to make anyone queasy.

More: U.S. Executions since 1976