Conservatives Join Liberals to Oppose Texas Execution of Mentally Ill Man

In 1992, Scott Panetti shot and killed his wife’s parents in Texas. He’s a diagnosed schizophrenic who’s been in mental institutions many times, and the US Supreme Court says it’s unconstitutional to execute the mentally ill. But Panetti, who says that Texas wants to execute him for preaching the bible, is scheduled to die this coming Wednesday. That has created an unlikely coalition of death penalty opponents, evangelical Christians and former Texas Republican congressman Ron Paul. Stephanie Mencimer writes for Mother Jonesmagazine.