In good company?

Amnesty International has released its annual report on executions last year. Where did we land in the rankings?

1) China (at least 3,400; perhaps as many as 10,000)
2) Iran (159)
3) Vietnam (64)
4) The United States Of America (59)*

*23 in Texas alone. Yeeehaaaa!

Yup. Top five for the good ol' US of A.

We're down from 65 since 2003. Good for us.

Of course, since 1977, 115 that were scheduled to be executed have been released on new evidence. Let's hope all the other people we killed were really guilty.

Oh, and let's not forget Charles Singleton and Kelsey Patterson, two of last year's execution crop. Singleton was forcibly medicated so that he could be judged competent enough for execution. Patterson was a paranoid schizophrenic.

I'm SO glad that we continue to hold our own with our neighbors in death, Iran and Vietnam. With luck, maybe we can catch up with China...

For more information on our continued efforts to remain part of this club of brutality, check Amnesty International's report.