Why Is The Us So Determined To Continue With Terrible Execution Methods?

[ToraToraTora]

http://news.sky.com/story/1699116/oklahoma-execution-officials-were-careless
Read this, I also saw the report on the TV this morning. You'd think they were ordering chemicals for cleaning a carpet. Even when using the right drugs it's a terrible method! Quite breathtaking stupidity! "That sounds the same must be ok" - did they ever touch on chemistry? PS This is about execution methods not the rights and wrongs of executions, start your own thread if you want that.

[THECORBYLOON]

"[Oklahoma's proposed method] would likely involve placing some type of mask over the condemned inmate’s head and pumping it full of 100 percent nitrogen, thereby depriving that person of oxygen. The inmate would die not by suffocation, which is caused by an inability to exhale and a subsequent (and very painful) buildup of carbon dioxide in the body, but rather by becoming gradually oxygen-deprived, which is essentially painless."

The hypoxia results in a sensation of euphoria and it appears to be the most pain-free method of execution.

[Jackdaw33]

Very interesting, Corby. Am I right in thinking that this would produce an effect similar to that of auto-erotic strangulation, from which people have accidentally died?

[THECORBYLOON]

Just looked it up and found a research paper which does say it induces hypoxic euphoria.

[THECORBYLOON]

When folk (such as piilots ) are tested in a decompression chamber they can do tasks that are set for them whilst wearing an oxygen mask but when the mask is removed and pressure drops, the nitrogen level increases. Their ability to follow even simple tasks diminishes and when telt to put on their oxygen mask they are not able to do it and they can often be giggly about it.

[Jackdaw33]

'Telt'? Are you a Geordie?

[youngmafbog]

Train more "Albert Pierrepoint's". Now there was a man who could dispatch them cleanly and efficiently.

[THECORBYLOON]

Not a Geordie, parents were Aberdonians.

[Jackdaw33]

Albert's record was 8 seconds from start to finish.

[youngmafbog]

Exactly, and death was near instantaneous as he knew exactly how to snap the gregory well sharpish.

[ToraToraTora]

if gas is the answer look no further than common or garden CO2, just got to sleep and never wake up, or even just CO. But all this messing about with various steam tugs! Gawd If it was me a bullet would be preferable.

[Clanad]

According to this article : http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/03/gas-chambers-electric-chairs-and-firing-squads/387706/ , it appears that perhaps European countries play a hand in causing some States here to return to more archaic forms of execution by not supplying certain drugs that were, previously, used in concocting the fatal doses administered to condemned criminals.

Also seems that Triple T's wish for sudden death at the end of a .30 caliber missile travelling at 3,300 feet per second could be in the offing if the State of Utah so chooses.

Ironically for many decades Utah offered the condemned their choice of execution, including firing squad. This was based on the fact that the LDS (Mormon) adherents believed that they could not gain forgiveness and therefore admission to heaven unless they shed their own blood if they had been convicted of murdering someone by a method that caused their victim to have shed their own blood...

[Jackdaw33]

Very interesting, Clanad. I remember well when the USA lifted the moratorium on capital punishment after 10 years. Gary Gilmore was the first to be executed, at his own insistence. He was shot.

[andy-hughes]

Let's do it!

And his eyes were donated - leading to the punk classic Gary Gilmore's Eyes.

Why do I know these things??????!!!!!!!!!!

[naomi24]

Google?

[andy-hughes]

No - memories from decades before the internet!!!

[Jackdaw33]

The first person to be executed unwillingly was John Spenkelink in 1980. When asked what he thought of capital punishment he replied, "If you ain't got the capital, you get the punishment". This has always struck me as very profound. Dr. Johnson said, "He cannot be hanged who hath £500 at his command".

[ToraToraTora]

personally I think the rope + drop is the best way clanad but bullet through the head is a lot better than all this farting about with chemicals.

[Cloverjo]

I'm sorry I haven't completely read the whole thread, but skimmed through.

Why don't they use whatever the people at Dignitas use? You don't hear of botched attempts at death there.

I won't go into the wrongs of capital punishment here.

[naomi24]

Cloverjo, I agree and suggested something similar earlier in the thread - but those methods don't allow for spite, retribution and punishment to be administered, so don't appear to be a consideration.

[andy-hughes]

Naomi - I can see the logic in your point about retribution and punishment - but I fail to see it in the sentencing system itself.

Surely the essence of punishment is to ensure that someone does not do the same thing again - hardly likely if they are rendered deceased - it somewhat removes the element of proof that the punishment is effective.

Retribution - now that is entirely a concept I can understand - but for some reason, the U.S. is singularly coy about its base need to murder someone for murdering someone else.