A Florida death row inmate named Manuel Valle was executed in September after spending 33 years on death row. This seems to have some people a little peeved.

So peeved that one representative has authored a bill, HB 325.

HB 325 would eliminate Florida's standard method of execution, lethal injection, and allow for executions only by electrocution or firing squad.

The author is one Republican Brad Drake who represents District 5 in the Florida House of Representatives. Apparently, earlier this week Drake was in a Waffle House and overheard a conversation.

In a Waffle House in DeFuniak Springs, Drake said he heard a constituent say, "'You know, they ought to just put them in the electric chair or line them up in front of a firing squad.'" After a conversation with the person, Drake, 36, said he decided to file the bill.

"There shouldn't be anything controversial about a .45-caliber bullet. If it were up to me we would just throw them off the Sunshine Skyway bridge and be done with it," Drake said.

Brad Drake seems to want to throw people off this bridge


OK. Maybe Drake doesn't actually want to throw anyone off a bridge (but then again, maybe he does. Who knows?) but he does want to expedite the death penalty. And make it harsher.

"So, I say let’s end the debate," he said in the release. "We still have Old Sparky. And if that doesn’t suit the criminal, then we will provide them a .45 caliber lead cocktail instead."....

...."I am sick and tired of this sensitivity movement for criminals," Drake said. "Every time there is a warranted execution that is about to take place, some man or woman is standing on a corner holding a sign, yelling and screaming for humane treatment.

"I have no desire to humanely respect those that are inhumane," he said in the release.

Really? A ".45 caliber lead cocktail"? That doesn't seem to be the sort of imagery one expects from a state representative. Or an adult.

On his website, Drake has a section entitled "Brad On The Issues". In that section, Drake outlines his basic beliefs that guide him as a State Representative. A couple of them are:

» Family values should take precedence.

» Firm Pro-Life advocate: protecting the sanctity of life and the unborn, believing that life begins at conception.

» (With no apologies) God should never be removed from the Pledge of Allegiance when spoken in our schools or removed from / within government buildings.

» Prayer should be allowed in schools.

I don't know how to break this to Brad Drake, but throwing people "off the Sunshine Skyway bridge" isn't a family value. Nor is it exactly consistent with being "Pro-life". That is actually more accurately being "Pro-throwing people off the Sunshine Skyway bridge".

Believing in keeping God in the Pledge of Allegiance and having prayer in schools would lead one to believe that Drake is a Christian man. His "About Brad" section of his website shows that he is a member of 1st Baptist Church of DeFuniak Springs.

Maybe Drake has been busy with all that time spent in Waffle House listening in on other people's conversations and hasn't had much time for reading. If so, I would like to point out a few passages from a book he might own.

You shall not murder. (Exodus 20:13)

Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. (Matthew 5:7)

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. (Matthew 5:9)

You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; (Matthew 5:38-39)

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48)

Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times." (Matthew 18:21-22)

I just thought I would throw those out there. Lots of stuff about love, forgiveness, and not killing....and nothing about the virtue of throwing people off bridges. Or using firing squads. Or intentionally having "no desire to humanely respect" other human beings.