[ChrisJones]

This thread is intended to examine the methodology of carrying out executions on behalf of the state. I don't intend this as a thread for arguing whether the death penalty is right or wrong and the greater moral questions surrounding it. If you wish to discuss this please start or revive another thread.

I recently watched a fascinating documentary by Michael Portillo, the former UK Defence Minister, shown on the BBC. It examined the principle methods of execution used in the US and examined them one by one, in terms of how humane they were.

His basic conclusions were that they were all inhumane in one way or another:

Lethal Injection has the problem that unless administered 100% correctly, 100% of the time, they can cause the condemned to suffer a death that is described by a medical patient who was injected with the same combination of drugs for a medical procedure as: "it feels like your entire body is on fire, with every pump of your heart you can feel fire flowing through your veins."

Hanging can go disastrously wrong if the calculations aren't done meticulously as demonstrated by the hanging of Sodamn Insane's brother last year, where his head was ripped clean from his body...

Electrocution can cause an excruciating death sometimes taking several shocks. In the film he tested it on a dead pig, the closest animal to humans, while I'm not convinced his methodology worked the same as a real execution, if it is even half as bad as that it must be a horrific way to die.

Finally the gas chamber only works quickly if the condemned takes in deep lung fulls of burning caustic fumes, the effect of tear gas is the same only without the death. If the condemned tried to hold their breath and prolong the inevitable it can take a long time for them to die in a way described as: "a combination of brain seizure, heart attack and asphyxiation."

He then sought to find a way that was; quick, painless and cheap. He looked at a few methods and landed on using nitrogen to induce asphyxia which renders the condemned unconscious in 15 seconds and dead within two minutes. On the face of it this seems to be the "perfect" execution method. The condemned goes into a momentary high before losing consciousness and doesn't care that they're about to die so doesn't fight it.

There are some that argue that the death should be painful to remind them of what they did to their victims. This is a fair point, though I suspect with many of these monsters their victims are the last thing on their minds as they're about to go. However IMO the penalty is the fact that they are going to loose their life, it is called the "Death" penalty, they will cease to be. I do not personally believe that any part of that punishment should be pain as well.

So what say you? Opinions? Thoughts?

I'll leave you with a quote from the documentary that I think is quite profound:

"I set out to discover whether science could offer a painless way of killing people and it does. I think that is the right thing to be looking at, because for as long as the state is going to kill people I think it has the obligation to do it in the way that least resembles murder."

[bill.aam]

In the US we also have executions by firing squad. I think Utah is the only state that still has it as a back up to lethal injection... If he was only looking at a it being quick, painless and cheap, I would think a clean shot from a firing squad would be very effective and the least expensive.

[Wino]

If someone receives the death penalty, in all probability they have murdered another human being or beings or abetted. The fact they may suffer pain upon their death sentence is of no concern. They had no concern for their victims, I have none for them.

[bill.aam]

I agree with Wino.....

[Mulderator]

Originally Posted by Wino

If someone receives the death penalty, in all probability they have murdered another human being or beings or abetted. The fact they may suffer pain upon their death sentence is of no concern. They had no concern for their victims, I have none for them.

I don't think too many people are worried about the pain inflicted on the death row inmate!

The real issue here is the cost and the time it takes from conviction to death, which is 10 years easy, if not longer in most cases. It costs more money to execute a prisoner than it does to house him/her for life. I think its just a lot easier, cleaner, and cheaper to eliminate the death penatly.

The only positive I see to it (it is not a deterrent) is that it does give the victim's family members a sense of justice being served.

[valley]

couldnt the person be put into a drug-induced coma and then be given a lethal injection so they are not aware of any pain?

[Wino]

Originally Posted by valley

couldnt the person be put into a drug-induced coma and then be given a lethal injection so they are not aware of any pain?

That is how the current cocktail is supposed to work. Sometimes, doesn't, and that's the rub.

[valley]

oh, I see. Thanks for clarifying, Wino.

[bomb #21]

"He then sought to find a way that was; quick, painless and cheap. He looked at a few methods and landed on using nitrogen to induce asphyxia ..."

I see where that's coming from but ... not necessarily environmentally friendly.

How about a 10 ton weight from about 30 feet?

[AngyWebby]

I like Norway. They don't have the death penalty. They just have guys take a max of 20 years prison sentence where they can do what they want.

[bomb #21]

Originally Posted by Wino

If someone receives the death penalty, in all probability they have murdered another human being or beings or abetted. The fact they may suffer pain upon their death sentence is of no concern. They had no concern for their victims, I have none for them.

Probability depends on where you're from. It's possible to be sentenced to death by stoning for committing adultery.

[ChrisJones]

Originally Posted by AngyWebby

I like Norway. They don't have the death penalty. They just have guys take a max of 20 years prison sentence where they can do what they want.

20 years is the MAXIMUM penalty???

[bomb #21]

Originally Posted by AngyWebby

I like Norway. They don't have the death penalty. They just have guys take a max of 20 years prison sentence where they can do what they want.

Plenty of places that don't have the death penalty & aren't ½ as cold as Norway.

What do they have the guys who are women take as a max?

[linskyjack]

I could care less if convicted murderers suffer before they die. However, we all know the inability of the government to always get the right person. In fact, Governor Ryan had the courage to act on that knowledge. If the state kills one innocent person in error, then that is one too many.

[Mulderator]

Originally Posted by linskyjack

If the state kills one innocent person in error, then that is one too many.

Unless that one person is you of course!