Friday, October 11, 2019

Thiel College-Death Penalty

The Death Penalty-Comment Project 3

The U.S. Supreme Court has never ruled that a method of execution violated the Eighth Amendment ban against cruel and unusual punishment.  Which method of execution--hanging, electrocution, gas, firing squad, lethal injection--do you find most humane? Explain you answer.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Student No. 17
In the modern era, I believe that gas executions could be the future in humane execution. Firstly, the technology being used for previous outdated is nearly 50 years old, and the majority of gas executions occurred nearly 100 years ago. Second, in the more recent period of gas execution, there was only 3 'inhumane' ones. Hanging, electrocution, and even lethal injection certainly have more. In regards to the firing squad, it certainly does not look good politically. When 600 qualified individuals are lining up to execute someone, it may send the wrong message about our culture, especially when a certain execution squad purposely injured the inmate before firing a second volley. Thirdly, new methods of anesthesia and nitrogen asphyxiation seem to be the future in quelling anti-death penalty sentiment in regards to humanity. Victims detect little abnormal sensation in this process, eliminating the feeling of suffocation, and any side effects of poisoning. In fact, Oklahoma has announced a switch to this process as their main form of execution.

Anonymous said...

Student No. 3

The most humane form of execution is death by firing squad. As explained in class, the heart stops significantly sooner than any other way. In a gas chamber, someone is suffocating and dying a slow painful death. A hanging breaks the neck and then you suffocate. A lethal injection can not work or take a significant amount of time to kill the criminal. Electrocution is just extraordinarily painful and takes too long. Firing squad, while still possibly painful and bloody, takes the shortest amount of time. If someone were to be shot in the head, they may not even feel a thing. There is significantly less suffering.

Anonymous said...

Student No. 8

I believe the most effective/humane form of execution is by firing squad. The method is extremely quick (when carried out) and also cheap. the only factor which might cause some concern is the probability of a mess (Blood) and PTSD to those who carry out the execution. even so the method is a extremely quick death that results also is a far quicker time of death then any other form of execution. usually there will be pain for a short amount of time (seconds) however the bodies response to receiving a gunshot is to release adrenaline, this would be done with an even greater amount in a situation like this, but with the quickest time of death being attributed by firing squad, the body has little time to transmit to the brain and respond with pain or an extended death. even if the individual realizes that they have been shot, the body would succumb to its wounds sooner then the possible prolonged suffering.

Anonymous said...

#20

I believe the most humane execution is the firing squad. It's quick and easy, also no one knows who did it. I guess, it's almost too close to reality because people shoot each other everyday. But on the other hand, it depends on the crime that led you to the death penalty. If someone killed someone in a horrific way, I believe they should be killed that way too, but that obvious won't happen. If it's an extremely heinous crime, then they should get the electric chair or gas chamber. It shouldn't be all be about the "sunshine and roses" on death row.

Anonymous said...

#7
In my opinion, I believe lethal injections are the most human of execution. This is because it is not a messy death, and allows family and friends to have a body for a funeral or service. Even though the person committed a horrible crime, they are paying for what they did and family should be allowed to morn as well. Although sometimes it can not be the fastest death, all of the options have had times where they lasted very long minutes as well. Even though gasings could be an other alternative, I believe it plays too much of an emotional time in history and we should respect by not using it. Hangings are very painful, and very humiliating and should not be a show for people. Lastly, even though firing squad would be the quickest, it is very messy death and does not allow a body for family and friends. Lethal ejections are the most popular used methods of executions now and we should just stick to it.

Anonymous said...

Student NO. 6

While one could argue that there is no humane method to kill another indicidual, I would assume the most "humane" manner would be the quickest. As we have learned in class, lethal injection is the most common. However, there can be numerous implications, which can result in a torture in a sense. The electtric chair and gas chambers are a bit out dated, and have their faults as well. All of these faults could be just dumb luck, but nonetheless would result in significant suffereing. Hanging has a negative connotation associated with it; lynchings have became associated with the KKK and other hate groups taking matters into their own hands. That leaves death by fire squad. I think this would be the most humane method because the heart stops within seconds. There is little room for error, we had only learned about one insatance and it was not dumb luck. I think that if we had a way to select individuals (almost the same process of choosing a jury) then this should be the preferred method of execution. The selection would avoid a political stigma being attached to our country.

Anonymous said...

Student No. 16

I believe that the question of humaneness in methods of execution depends on what one defines as important in the aftermath of the execution. For example, is a cleaner execution more important, or the preserved mentality of the executioner after the execution? If one prefers a cleaner execution, then the method of lethal injection could be arguably a better sight, as it looks like they are sleeping—unless there is the rare circumstance of an unsettling reaction, such as writhing or gasping—and is thus more peaceful to watch. If one prefers the second option, then the firing squad is the method of choice, as the executioners aim directly at the condemned person's heart. By doing this, it is expected that the person will die immediately—although some have survived and had to be dispatched by a single person at close range. This method is more humane psychologically, as all but one member of the firing squad is given a live round while the last person is given a blank, thus eliminating the ability for the executing men to know whose responsibility it was. The condemned person also usually wears a blindfold, whereas other forms of execution don't, which makes it easier to execute the person since you cannot look into their eyes--which could impact the executioner's conscious, leading to a botched job. Ultimately, although it may be messy, the psychological protection aspects of the firing squad seem a little more humane than lethal injection, as it can protect the mentality of those who go on living when the execution is over.

Anonymous said...

Student No. 9

I believe that the most humane form of execution is the lethal injection. Although there have been failed attempts where the execution is prolonged and the victim doesn't immediately die, I believe this is the most humane and just way to perform and execution. A firing squad i believe would be the quickest and fastest way for one to be executed, however I do not believe that men lining up to carry out an execution is the most modern and humane form of execution. Surely it is most effective, but firing on someone in my opinion is an outdated option of the past. Not to mention you are firing at a person who will bleed, causing the death to be messy. Hangings in my opinion just seem as if they are not humane and that they are a very dated form of execution. Electrocution is a form of execution that immediate brings one to think pain. Although it was never ruled cruel and unusual by the Supreme Court, many people may have the thought that it is cruel because of the idea behind being electrocuted. When most people think electrocution, they think pain, when they think pain, they think cruel. The supreme court might not agree, but the citizens of the United States might think otherwise. The gas chamber seems like it would be effective and humane however as it has not been used yet, it is hard to form an opinion on it as it could also be flawed like the many other forms of execution. Therefore, I believe that lethal injection remains the most humane and peaceful way of executing a criminal because it is usually brief, painless and quiet. Although not always the case, it still seems that the positives of it outweigh the negatives.

Anonymous said...

Student Number 2:

In my opinion, killing someone no matter what is in any way humane. However, when taking a look at all the methods used throughout history I do have to say they have gotten more and more humane throughout the years. I believe the firing squad and lethal injection have to be the most humane. With the firing squad, we don't have any idea who exactly did the killing and for the most part, with qualified individuals it is very fast and typically is effective. If anything there are more potential consequences for the individuals carrying out the act. Lethal Injection is also to be very humane when carried out properly. Typically it is not painful and happens very quickly. Methods such as hanging, electrocution and gas, are inhumane and should not be allowed to be used.

Anonymous said...

Student No. 10:

I would argue that the most humane form of execution would be through lethal injection (when it is done properly). While there are many problems with lethal injection I believe that it is the most civil way to execute someone today. The other methods listed hanging, electrocution, gas chambers, and firing squad are methods of the past and seem outdated. Hanging, electrocution, and gas chambers are all inhumane methods, as it causes prolonged suffering to the individual being executed. Deaths of these type are painful and cruel. While a firing squad may be the fastest method, it could also be more problematic. It would involve more people being present and active during the time of the execution. It could also potentially cause more harm to those participating and could cause psychological consequences. There would also be a greater chance of error and a bigger mess to clean up. Due to all of these reasons, I believe that lethal injection is the most humane method of execution that we have today.

Anonymous said...

Student 18
I believe that the most humane form of execution would be leather injection. It is the most painless way to preform an execution and has had a very small fail rate. Another form of execution that might be very humane is the firing squad. In some cases of execution the executioner feels guilty for sending someone to death, firing squads it’s hard to tell who killed the executee as all but one of the rifles involved in the execution has a live round. Further more this process, if done correctly can be painless as the bullet when aimed correctly will go so fast and if it hits a certain part of the brain cause instant death.

Anonymous said...

Student 1

I feel as if lethal injection is the most humane of all other executions. Even though the pain may last longer before death than the others, lethally injection is less graphic. Electrocuting, hanging and having someone shot would be a brutal and cruel way to end someone's life.

Anonymous said...

Student 5

Lethal injection is the most humane out of the rest of the ways to die. Being shot or hung is really hard on peoples mind even though that person committed a harsh crime. Back in the day it use to be for the public to watch the deaths of criminals but we are still human.

Anonymous said...

Student 19

In my opinion, I believe lethal injection is the most humane way to carry out the death penalty. I believe this because it does not cause graphic damage to the body like a firing squad would or does not seemed outdated like hanging or the gas chamber. I also believe lethal injection is the most humane because if the procedure is carried out properly it is not supposed to cause the offender any pain and should only last a short period.

Anonymous said...

Student No. 4

Lethal injection I believe is the most humane way of giving someone the death penalty. Lethal injection the guards give you a sedative before giving you the drug. It helps you relax and not feel any pain while they inject you with the drug. The next way I believe is the most humane way of giving the death penalty is the firing squad. By shooting someone you will instantly kill someone with no pain. All the other ways will fall behind but those two are the most humane way of giving some the death penalty.

Anonymous said...

Student 12

It is hard to decide on a humane way to take another person’s life and it could definitely be argued that there is no humane way to execute someone. All of the execution methods that we have discussed in class have their problems. I would say that hanging and electrocution are least humane methods of executions. In both things can go very wrong and the individual being executed may have a prolonged and painful death. Gas executions haven’t been used in decades, but it would be interesting to see with the development of new technology if this method could make a comeback. Out of all of the execution methods I believe that the firing squad slightly more humane than lethal injections. The firing squad produces the quickest form of death for the person being executed and as a result the least amount of pain with the correct shot placement. It also seems like it wouldn’t cost a whole lot of money compared to lethal injection. Lethal inhections, when done correctly produce little pain and don’t take to long. However, with the lack of drug availability, executioners have turned to different drug cocktails which in turn have created a host of problems where some men were actually surviving their execution.

Anonymous said...

#11
Of all the methods of execution, hanging is the most humane. No matter what method, it is going to hurt and not be pleasant, but it cannot really backfire. If someone hangs long enough, they're going to die. Being that hanging does not require the help of other people, it does not put the burden or guilt on anyone else, either. With lethal injection or firing squad, that puts the responsibility of the criminal's death onto their hands.

student 14 said...

student 14

Out of all the different ways to be executed from being hanged to being electrocuted alive, I would have to say firing squad. The reason why I chose firing squad is because I feel like it would be less painful then being electrocuted. Five bullets to heart would not leave you breathing for less than 15 seconds. Some people have even survived the lethal injection making it more painful for them, instead of using firing squad which is guaranteed a more efficient and painless death. Firing squad today is illegal in the united states.

Anonymous said...

Student 21:

The most humane method of execution is the firing squad. This method is the most accurate and the quickest method to complete. I believe that there are too many failed attempts with hangings and lethal injection. Others may argue that the firing squad causes too much PTSD for the people who carry out the act. However, I believe that there will be PTSD no matter which way you execute someone. Lethal injection can also cause PTSD, especially if it does not work the first time. The firing squad is the most humane and effective way to carry out executions and it should be made legal again in the United states.

Anonymous said...

Student No. 13:
I think the most humane way to execute someone is by firing squad. The other methods of execution either take longer for the individual to die or have had problems during attempted executions. Death by firing squad stops the heart quicker than the other methods as discussed in class. I believe it to be the most efficient method, therefore the most humane.

Law and Justice Policy said...

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