Electric Chair public execution question

[Saintmichaeldefendthem1]

Why are we so concerned for the humane nature of capitol punishment?? Was public stoning in the OT expressly humane?? I happen to think a firing squad is just fine. The measure of pain the guilty feels is still a minute fraction of the pain he/she has caused by their actions. I happen to think they are getting off easy. My idea of true capitol punishment is making the guilty pay for the support of the survivors of their crimes, but I come from a different philosophy.

A person executed by firing squad feels the impact like a bat hitting them in the middle of their chest. Then within seconds the blood drains from the head and unconsciousness ensues. It is quick, but it isn't painless. If we have technology available to us to make death more painless than stoning or firing squad, it's our moral obligation to use it.

As for the exocution of innocents, yes it is horrible, but here's the thing, nothing in this world is perfect, and God knew about this specific problem a long time ago. I guarantee he's got a way to set things right in those cases. We have to enforce laws to protect the citizens. Mistakes will be made in that process. God's got our back on this.

This is the other side of the debate, the deterrence effect of capital punishment. It's here that I think opponents strain the proverbial gnat while swallowing the proverbial camel. When capital punishment is used regularly it has a decisive impact on on murder rates as seen in Texas while George Bush was governor. Opponents superimpose on capital punishment an impossible requirement that it can't be exercised until we have a flawless system while ignoring the manifest benefit that our current system has in preventing the death of many innocent people.

[NeuroTypical]

Doing away with the death penalty is simply an acknowledgement of our inherent fallibility as humans.

And in a seeming paradox, having the death penalty acknowledges the same thing.

I don't fault anyone for their stance on the issue. I just know that a big reason I carry concealed, is because the justice we earthly mortals dispense, sucks rocks. I'd rather my loved ones never need any.

LM

[ferretrunner]

I believe that's what recent court cases have found, and the reason for a new drug protocol in many states. I believe that KCl was the last drug to be administered in the old protocol as a means to stop the heart, but this was following an injection of a paralytic... the purpose of the paralytic of course isn't for the convict being executed, but to make the process easier for the witnesses... the result of course is that it's probable that more than one person was conscious when the KCl was administered, but unable to do anything due to the effects of the paralytic.

There are old stories of people 'waking up' during surgery and going through the entire process unable to scream due to the effects of the paralytic that's given after induction. Fortunately we now use a system called BIS which monitors a patient and greatly reduces the odds of this happening these days.

Even if the desired outcome is death, nobody should be forced to endure that.

In regards to the Hippocratic Oath

This is why doctors should not participate in executions- they're sworn to protect life and keep it sacred- participating in an execution is contrary to everything a modern physician stands for and a perversion of the profession... and it's not just me saying this- the AMA has made similar statements as well.

There is a part of me who thinks, "Yeah... and were their victims' deaths painless. Who gave the victims anesthetics during the commission of the crime? Why should the perps have it easier?" (Given that the crime that sent them to death row was murder/ violent- which most of the time is true). Then there is the part of me that thinks torture is wrong. If we are going to legally execute someone, it should be quick and painless. torture doesn't teach them a lesson, it just lowers us to be closer to their level of behavior.

I think there are times death penalty is appropriate. I don't like it... and I don't like what it says about our society. It should be quick- none of this death row for 20 years.

[marshac]

And in a seeming paradox, having the death penalty acknowledges the same thing.

I don't fault anyone for their stance on the issue. I just know that a big reason I carry concealed, is because the justice we earthly mortals dispense, sucks rocks. I'd rather my loved ones never need any.

LM

There is a difference between self defense and judicial justice. I too have a CCW and wouldn't hesitate if need be.

[Traveler]

I cannot speak for everyone but for myself I can speak. I do not want to die in my sleep and I do not want to die without any pain. Allow me to explain. First. I will only have one opportunity in all of eternity to experience physical death. I do not intend to be robbed of that experience and pass on unaware of the event. Second. Pain is not of itself a bad thing. Having or being able to endure pain is; for all I understand, an attribute of divine G-dlyness. I realize that everyone has their priorities but when I am being worked on by a dentist I would rather endure a few minutes of pain that to walk around for a day with half my face without any feeling.

The execution of innocence is not of itself a bad thing. Many are making it out to be much more than it is. Christ is the only truly innocent person to walk this earth and he was executed despite his innocence for the things worthy of death in us all. Yet every Christian rejoices and honors Jesus in his sacrifice and praises G-d for it. The execution for offences is not just a way to rid ourselves of the worst criminal elements but it is also a means by which a person can make amends for crimes and offences. Therefore I would not be opposed that I be executed even if it was for things I did not cause - if in my death there was peace and forgiveness granted for those that sought such.

There are many dimensions to capital punishment that cannot be dismissed because we think we like life. Putting others at risk (guarding unrepentant criminal elements) so that we can live unconcerned is the worst kind of selfishness. Many taught themselves “better” and more moral than others because they would have criminal elements removed (in a way dead to them) from their neighborhood only to be placed or incarcerated to someone else’ “neighborhood” that the self appointed righteous can completely ignore whenever it pleases them. This is not the moral high ground in discussions of how to make society better.

If someone claims to be against capital punishment and is willing to watch convicted criminals to live next door to them and their children and to worry themselves 24/7 about the criminals next to their home then I will believe them moral. But if they are willing to push off the responsibility and blame others to watch over such criminals while for themselves and their love one to pretend to be rid of such criminal forcing by law other to worry of the criminals - then I deem them hypocrites.

The Traveler

Edited May 3, 2011 by Traveler