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Surviving an Execution

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Re: Surviving an Execution

#4
I always thought that the movie, Capote, had the most visceral depiction of execution I've seen in film. The idea of being led to your death, the hood, the waiting for the platform to drop. Oof, makes my heart race a bit. The hanging or shooting may be quick, but the moments leading up to it certainly are not. And imagine if you were innocent!

Re: Surviving an Execution

#5
post #2

Leaving aside the moral question of the death penalty, the use of lethal injection seems insane to me. Why don't they just use nitrogen suffocation?

Or carbon monoxide?

Or you know, literally, just a gun to the head. Out of all possible execution methods that were tried in the last century, the lethal injection seems to be one of the most horrific ones, possibly beaten by the electric chair.

Re: Surviving an Execution

#6
post #2

Leaving aside the moral question of the death penalty, the use of lethal injection seems insane to me. Why don't they just use nitrogen suffocation?

Not that I agree with the practice but the people pro death are also pro retribution; to them the suffering is a feature :/

Re: Surviving an Execution

#7
post #2

Leaving aside the moral question of the death penalty, the use of lethal injection seems insane to me. Why don't they just use nitrogen suffocation?

Or carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is an awful way to die, as it triggers the hypercapnic alarm response.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypercapnic_alarm_response

Inert gas asphyxiation would be a more "humane" way

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inert_gas_asphyxiation

Re: Surviving an Execution

#8
post #2

Leaving aside the moral question of the death penalty, the use of lethal injection seems insane to me. Why don't they just use nitrogen suffocation?

PR concerns, they're worried about being compared to the Nazis if they use gases for executions.

Re: Surviving an Execution

#9
Why not a firing squad? I’ve never understood why we are so concerned with the pain and suffering of a condemned murderer. I get that the 8th amendment is there and we shouldn’t want to make anyone suffer but some criminals are alive simply because it’s illegal to kill them.

Re: Surviving an Execution

#10
post #2

Leaving aside the moral question of the death penalty, the use of lethal injection seems insane to me. Why don't they just use nitrogen suffocation?

Because there are existing court rulings declaring that lethal injection (with a particular cocktail of drugs) is not considered cruel and unusual punishment. If any other method were tried the accused would appeal on the grounds that the method was excessively cruel and the court process would take many years to complete.
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