# Last meal requests for Texas death row imates. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 23, 2002, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-meal-requests-for-texas-death-row-imates/99673 "2002-03-23T04:58:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-meal-requests-for-texas-death-row-imates/99673/1 "2002-03-23T04:58:55Z")
[http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/finalmeals.htm](http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/finalmeals.htm) What would you ask for? Thanks **Debij** …🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-meal-requests-for-texas-death-row-imates/99673/2 "2002-03-23T05:04:07Z")
> [@](#): > > Chocolate birthday cake with “2/23/90” written on top, 7 pink candles That’s so sad ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Loopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loopus/32/15343_2.png) [@Loopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopus)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-meal-requests-for-texas-death-row-imates/99673/3 "2002-03-23T05:23:51Z")
> [@](#): > > Justice, Equality, World Peace Sounds like it would taste terrible. > [@](#): > > Asked that final meal be provided to a homeless person I wonder if it was? An interesting, if morbid, site… -Loopus ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-meal-requests-for-texas-death-row-imates/99673/4 "2002-03-23T06:51:50Z")
Maybe it’s just a coincidence, only 2 of the 11 people I have clicked on (to see the picture and crime) have been white… Is it just ‘luck’ or is there a conspiriacy?😕 ---
**Author:** ![kase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a5b964/32.png) [@kase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kase)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-meal-requests-for-texas-death-row-imates/99673/5 "2002-03-23T11:48:52Z")
I’d ask for a spacecake. All for myself. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![darksight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@darksight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/darksight)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-meal-requests-for-texas-death-row-imates/99673/6 "2002-03-23T12:32:19Z")
I noticed that none of these guys asked for sushi. Or Truffles what is the deal here. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-meal-requests-for-texas-death-row-imates/99673/7 "2002-03-23T12:43:05Z")
Well, if they were going to electrocute me, I’d ask for someting that would really make the place **STANK** when it burns. But I don’t know the best food for that goal. ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-meal-requests-for-texas-death-row-imates/99673/8 "2002-03-23T13:02:19Z")
I noticed at least 10 executionees chose Dr Pepper for their last drink. _Drink Dr Pepper: #1 choice of the damned!_ > [@](#): > > 1 Cheeseburger with American, Cheddar and Mozzarella Cheese, without out mayonnaise, mustard or onions; Large French Fries; Bowl of Macaroni and Cheese; Lasagna with 2 slices of Garlic Bread; 4 oz. of Nacho Cheese; 3 Large Cinnamon Rolls; 5 Scrambled Eggs; 8 pints of Chocolate Milk Geez Jeff! All those saturated fats will kill you. Thank you, thank you, I’ll be here all week. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Big\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Big\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-meal-requests-for-texas-death-row-imates/99673/9 "2002-03-23T13:42:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Speaker for the Dead \* > \*\*Maybe it’s just a coincidence, only 2 of the 11 people I have clicked on (to see the picture and crime) have been white… > > Is it just ‘luck’ or is there a conspiriacy?😕 \*\* there’s another link there with racial stats, on death row. white:33% black:41% hispanic:25% men:446 women:8 Living somewhere where we don’t have the death penalty, this is mindboggling, almost like looking at another world… I’d have lots of cake too though. and m&m’s! ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-meal-requests-for-texas-death-row-imates/99673/10 "2002-03-23T13:46:42Z")
I’d want a last smoke, at least, but cigarettes are “prohibited by policy”. Jeez, it’s not like the guy’s gonna get lung cancer! ---
**Author:** ![DVous\_Means](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@DVous\_Means](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DVous_Means)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-meal-requests-for-texas-death-row-imates/99673/11 "2002-03-23T14:03:17Z")
Three things occur to me after clicking that link: 1. What a sad site! 2. The sheer number of persons on the list. As a prior Governor of Texas, George W Bush must have been resposnsible for more executions than any other western democratic leader. Scary! No wonder he has no qualms about sending other people’s sons to fight his wars. 3. What sort of message does it send to the rest of the world when the only solution Texas has for its worst criminals is legalised murder. How hypocrytical! ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-meal-requests-for-texas-death-row-imates/99673/12 "2002-03-23T14:48:31Z")
Well, as for #3 on your list, it sends a message of, “Don’t commit a capital crime in Texas.” Did you only look at the meal requests, or did you click on the names as well? If you haven’t, you should. Might temper that sympathy of yours. I have a hard time feeling sorry for a guy who [abducted and raped a 7-year-old girl, then bludgeoned and choked her to death](http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/statistics/deathrow/drowlist/millerg.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-meal-requests-for-texas-death-row-imates/99673/13 "2002-03-23T15:40:44Z")
> [@](#): > > …bubble gum is not permitted under TDCJ regulations … Why? ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-meal-requests-for-texas-death-row-imates/99673/14 "2002-03-23T15:46:08Z")
Minor point worth mentioning: When a man on death row is offered his choice for a “last meal,” it has to be something that’s normally offered by the prison cafeteria. That’s why you see things like cheeseburgers or spagetti topping the list. Those are among the tastier choices regularly served at the prison cafeteria. It’s not as if a guy facing execution can say, “I’ll have lobster Thermidor, pheasant under glass and some Dom Perrignon. What, you don’t have any? Well, I guess you’ll just have to postpone my execution til you can find some.” ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-meal-requests-for-texas-death-row-imates/99673/15 "2002-03-23T16:33:18Z")
IIRC, The last meal may cost no more than $20.00. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-meal-requests-for-texas-death-row-imates/99673/16 "2002-03-23T16:35:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DVous Means \* > \*\* > 3. What sort of message does it send to the rest of the world when the only solution Texas has for its worst criminals is legalised murder. How hypocrytical! \*\* How so? We punish kidnappers (and most other criminals) by forcibly abducting them and confining them in a small cell with little more than the bare essentials for survival. You could call this “legalized kidnapping”. And you could call fines “legalized theft”. At least these people got the benefit of having their actions weighed against an ethical and legal standard before they were sentenced to death. And their death will likely be painless, since they will be executed by lethal injection. It’s doubtful that their victims got the same chances. ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-meal-requests-for-texas-death-row-imates/99673/17 "2002-03-23T17:42:11Z")
Blowfish, or something equally risky, would seem a good choice. ---
**Author:** ![robgruver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@robgruver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robgruver)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-meal-requests-for-texas-death-row-imates/99673/18 "2002-03-23T17:51:22Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by DVous Means \* > \*\* > 2. The sheer number of persons on the list. As a prior Governor of > Texas, George W Bush must have been resposnsible for more > executions than any other western democratic leader. Scary! > No wonder he has no qualms about sending other people’s > sons to fight his wars._\* Not to split hairs or anything, but the judges and juries of the great state of Texas sentanced these ruthless people to death, not former governor Bush. While I am not an advocate for the death penalty (I think it’s pretty gruesome, and I have problems with the penal system in the US anyway), a majority of these people who have been killed deserve it. Eye for an eye, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Loopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loopus/32/15343_2.png) [@Loopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopus)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2002, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-meal-requests-for-texas-death-row-imates/99673/19 "2002-03-23T17:56:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DVous Means \* > **2. The sheer number of persons on the list. As a prior Governor of > Texas, George W Bush must have been resposnsible for more > executions than any other western democratic leader. Scary! > No wonder he has no qualms about sending other people’s > sons to fight his wars.** Two things come to my mind after reading this: 1. Governor Bush wasn’t responsible for a single execution, except in the sense that he neglected to pardon people who had been arrested, tried, convicted, and sentenced by policemen, juries, and judges under Texas law. 2. How exactly is the war in Afghanistan “his” war? -Loopus ---
**Author:** ![DVous\_Means](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@DVous\_Means](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DVous_Means)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2002, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-meal-requests-for-texas-death-row-imates/99673/20 "2002-03-25T14:09:32Z")
Clearly I’m not amongst friends here! Let me tackle each issue. I base, in part, my objection to capital punishment on recent works by US advocacy groups who have used DNA technology and reanalysis of exisiting evidence, allowing some convicted death row inmates to prove their innocence. (Sorry I don’t have cite for this - it was something that I heard discussed in depth on a radio interview several weeks ago). I also recall the case of an evil serial killer in the USSR some years ago. This monster was responsible for the deaths of about 50 people, but two or three other men were executed for his crimes before the authorities actually caught the real killer. Can anyone here truly say that everyone on the list at the aforementioned web site was absolutely guilty behind all possible doubt? It’s a bit hard to say sorry if new evidence emerges… As far as George W is concerned, I admit that I made a cheap shot. But the man did say only a couple of weeks ago that his administration intends pursuing other countries other than Afghanistan in the war on terror. This has got quite a few of us around the world rather nervous, particularly when there have been side statements made by other prominent persons in which the possible use of nuclear strikes is discussed. I believe the efforts being made to garner support for an attack on the likes of Iraq would be far better channelled into resolving the rapidly deteriorating mess between Israel and the Palestinians. Iwould like to see America browbeat Israel into adopting a far more concillatory attitude, and achieve a real commitment to establishing a true Palestinian nation, not just the enclave that currently exists. To me, this would be far more beneficial towards the security and peace of mind of the rest of us. Yes, I admit that my views are left-wing, and that many of you will never agree with me. At least now you know why I said what I said. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/last-meal-requests-for-texas-death-row-imates/99673.md?page=2)