NationStates Jolt Archive

This is not a debate of whether capital punishment should be around or not, so don't bring it into this. Since it is here and seems it will be for some time, what do you feel is the most humane method to carry it out?

I tend to think simply a shotgun to the head is the quickest and least painful option though it probably isn't the most practical. However I think lethal injection could be a good method but not how it is currently administered. The drugs used should probably be changed as there are many questions as to whether the current drugs really offer a painless death. There will be a poll

edit- please don't vote 'other' if by 'other' you mean "I don't believe in the death penalty". That would throw off the results.

Death by sexual exhaustion. *nod*

Probably the firing squad, lethal injection or hanging/garroting, where it works properly. Firing squad and LI for most likely to work properly.

Since it is here

No, it isn't.

edit- please don't vote 'other' if by 'other' you mean "I don't believe in the death penalty". That would throw off the results.

I don't see why shotgun to the head and firing squad are separate options - it's basically the same sort of thing. Incidentally, I believe parts of Indochina use shotgun to the heart as the primary form of execution, where the criminal is facing away from the barrel. Interesting.

Have the inmate tied down on his back, shirtless on a table. A rat is then placed on his stomach, and a bowel is placed over the rat. A fire is then lit which makes the bowel become very heat. Desperate to escape from the heat, the rat has nowhere to go....but down...

Something that sends you gently into a sleep that you never wake from would be humane, although for a quick and inexpensive method, the guillotine would be good.

Have the inmate tied down on his back, shirtless on a table. A rat is then placed on his stomach, and a bowel is placed over the rat. A fire is then lit which makes the bowel become very heat. Desperate to escape from the heat, the rat has nowhere to go....but down...

2 fast 2 furious reference, eh?

Have the inmate tied down on his back, shirtless on a table. A rat is then placed on his stomach, and a bowel is placed over the rat. A fire is then lit which makes the bowel become very heat. Desperate to escape from the heat, the rat has nowhere to go....but down...

Bowel = http://intmed.muhealth.org/gast/images/bowel.jpg

I tend to think simply a shotgun to the head is the quickest and least painful option though it probably isn't the most practical.
:eek:
And the failures would be excruciatingly painful!

No, it isn't.
Indeed.

Death by sexual exhaustion. *nod*
You mean: Death by Snoo snoo! :fluffle:

No, it isn't.

it is in many places

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Death_Penalty_World_Map.png

it is in many places

Not here, though.

Old age.

Gunshot to the head. The executer would have the barrel of the gun aimed at the base of the skull.

You mean: Death by Snoo snoo! :fluffle:
*Grin*
*Horror*
*Grin*
*Horror*
*Grin*

If I had to choose a method of execution, it'd be to be blown apart in midair over a major population area. Then I can go to my death saying "It will rain blood today", and it'll be quite cool and infamous.

There is no humane method of execution.

I'd have to go with firing squad.

Death by old age.
Or perhaps the classic, death by chocolate.

Gunshot to the head. The executer would have the barrel of the gun aimed at the base of the skull.

Eh. A bit too European, I think. I like our tradition of the firing squad standing a small distance back. Same effect, but less reminiscent of past fascist and communist regimes.

all the common execution methods are equally humane if done correctly. they all (no not burning at the stake) kill in less than a second. (well not lethal injection but it incapacitates in less than a second)

but with many you have the problem of returning a mutilated corpse to the innocent family he came from.

in others you also have the problem of danger to the executioner. badly maintained electric chairs and gas chambers pose a serious threat to bystanders.

botched executions will always be a problem eh? no one wants it to take hours for a fat man to die from lethal injection or to have to have a guys head pop off in a hanging.

i guess those are a problem for people who actually support the death penalty to deal with.

Eh. A bit too European, I think. I like our tradition of the firing squad standing a small distance back. Same effect, but less reminiscent of past fascist and communist regimes.

I realise that but this way you've got little chance of missing unless you're a storm trooper at a shooting range aiming at Skywalker. ;)

Old age.

Everyone Kwons hanging is the least painful

You mean: Death by Snoo snoo! :fluffle:

I stand corrected. :)

I realise that but this way you've got little chance of missing unless you're a storm trooper at a shooting range aiming at Skywalker. ;)

Ah, could be. After all, if anyone can botch something so simple, the government can. :p

Well... I can't think of a humane way to kill someone.

I guess the good old Guillotine... treid and true

Capital punishment in itself is inhumane.

all the common execution methods are equally humane if done correctly. they all (no not burning at the stake) kill in less than a second. (well not lethal injection but it incapacitates in less than a second)

but with many you have the problem of returning a mutilated corpse to the innocent family he came from.

in others you also have the problem of danger to the executioner. badly maintained electric chairs and gas chambers pose a serious threat to bystanders.

botched executions will always be a problem eh? no one wants it to take hours for a fat man to die from lethal injection or to have to have a guys head pop off in a hanging.

i guess those are a problem for people who actually support the death penalty to deal with.

Yeah, it is. I think the guillotine is least likely to mess up... I mean, the force alone probably is enough for a painless death.

Seppuku :D


I guess a simple handgun bullet to the head be most humane

The most certain way of making sure the person is not going to feel pain is to shoot him from a point-blank range, to head, while he's sleeping. He could be put to sleep with drugs, which would be painless, and I can hardly imagine he would have time to suffer while the bullet goes through his skull.

If you shoot someone awake and in full consciousness, the stress and fear alone may be enough to cause physical pain. So, shooting while asleep.

EDIT: Personally, if I'd get to choose how I'm going to be executed, I would take the firing squad-option. I'd have the chance of shouting something rebellious and utterly cool when they're aiming. :D

Poison Gas. Reminiscent of Nazi Germany? Of course, but that doesn't make it the least painful and most humane.

Crossbow FTW!

Personally, I feel that nitrogen asphyxiation (or something similar) would be the most humane method of exectution. Since feelings of suffocation are caused by build-up of carbon dioxide in the body rather than lack of oxygen, one would imagine that nitrogen asphyxiation would cause no pain, but simply a gentle drifting off.

However, I feel that if we are executing someone, make it as painful and brutal as possible.


Note that I am actualy against the death penalty.

EDIT: Personally, if I'd get to choose how I'm going to be executed, I would take the firing squad-option. I'd have the chance of shouting something rebellious and utterly cool when they're aiming. :D

Like:

O why should wrath be mute, & Fury dumbe?
I am no Baby I, that with base Prayers
I should repent the Euils I haue done.
Ten thousand worse, then euer yet I did,
Would I performe if I might haue my will:
If one good Deed in all my life I did,
I do repent it from my very Soule

Like:

O why should wrath be mute, & Fury dumbe?
I am no Baby I, that with base Prayers
I should repent the Euils I haue done.
Ten thousand worse, then euer yet I did,
Would I performe if I might haue my will:
If one good Deed in all my life I did,
I do repent it from my very Soule

Sounds good, what's it from? :p

Reminds me a bit of that line from "Henry IV," ...something like "If cutting off my hand could ressurect the dead, I would do it so that I could kill you again," minus the Elisabethan English,of course. :p

Sounds good, what's it from? :p

Reminds me a bit of that line from "Henry IV," ...something like "If cutting off my hand could ressurect the dead, I would do it so that I could kill you again," minus the Elisabethan English,of course. :p

Titus.

Bowel = http://intmed.muhealth.org/gast/images/bowel.jpg
I was wondering why the rat didn't chew through the bowel, too.

Okay, back to the question at hand.

It isn't humane, but it is fair. The convict should die in the same way his victim died. Strangled, shot, drowned, etc...

I didn't vote because I didn't want to throw off the results of this scientific poll.

Personally, I feel that nitrogen asphyxiation (or something similar) would be the most humane method of exectution. Since feelings of suffocation are caused by build-up of carbon dioxide in the body rather than lack of oxygen, one would imagine that nitrogen asphyxiation would cause no pain, but simply a gentle drifting off.

However, I feel that if we are executing someone, make it as painful and brutal as possible.


Note that I am actualy against the death penalty.
Same, It's easy to die from Helium asphyxiation because you don't realize you're suffocating. If I got to choose how I was executed it would have to be a brutal and gory battle to the death ala' roman colosseum.

I think the most humane way to kill someone would be nitrous asphyxiation. It's similar to nitrogen asphyxiation in the fact that your body doesn't realize it's being starved of air, but using nitrous would put the condemned into an anxiety free state of mind, freed worldly concerns, until they pass out and then die.

Titus.

Aha, thanks. :)

death by suicide sounds fairly humane, maybe death by leaky gas pipe that nobody knows about

Old age.

you sick monster :mad:

:p

edit: oooh wrong account guess who I am :D

you sick monster :mad:

:p

*sits in chair, waiting patiently for everyone to die*

Muah-hah-hah-hah!

edit: John Cusack?

Have the inmate tied down on his back, shirtless on a table. A rat is then placed on his stomach, and a bowel is placed over the rat. A fire is then lit which makes the bowel become very heat. Desperate to escape from the heat, the rat has nowhere to go....but down...

Been reading 1984 much?

I think being beaten over the head with a rusty metal baseball bat covered in monkey feces would be a pretty humane way.... =D.

All craziness aside, I think lethal injection would be the best way, however we shouldn't be as liberal as to whom we give capital punishment.

The most certain way of making sure the person is not going to feel pain is to shoot him from a point-blank range, to head, while he's sleeping. He could be put to sleep with drugs, which would be painless, and I can hardly imagine he would have time to suffer while the bullet goes through his skull.


Why on earth would you add the cost of the bullet when you're already using drugs? Just OD his food with a lethal amount of sleeping pills. The only thing messy is cleaning his face of food after he falls face down in it.

I think the most humane way to kill someone would be nitrous asphyxiation. It's similar to nitrogen asphyxiation in the fact that your body doesn't realize it's being starved of air, but using nitrous would put the condemned into an anxiety free state of mind, freed worldly concerns, until they pass out and then die.

QFT, they'd probably use nitrous before adding the nitrogen.

None of the above...although massively overdosing on Morphine might not be toooooooo bad.

Hanging because if it is done right your neck snaps and you die.

Other: Acting civilized and not killing them.

Hanging because if it is done right your neck snaps and you die.

And if its not you hang and fight while you slowly choke to death.

Yeah, it is. I think the guillotine is least likely to mess up... I mean, the force alone probably is enough for a painless death.

I've heard a decapitated head survives for up to 30 seconds after the fact. I'm not sure if thats a fact or not, though.

I've heard a decapitated head survives for up to 30 seconds after the fact. I'm not sure if thats a fact or not, though.

I've heard that too! The head could potentially see its body laying on the ground...

I've heard a decapitated head survives for up to 30 seconds after the fact. I'm not sure if thats a fact or not, though.

I've heard that too, but I think the massive bloodloss and severing of the spine make it impossible.

well supossedly, when Henry the whatever was executed in france, his eyes moved and blinked for a minute afterwards.

I've heard a decapitated head survives for up to 30 seconds after the fact. I'm not sure if thats a fact or not, though.

Legend. A swift decapitation is followed by a massive loss of blood pressure in the brain. There could be some twitching of the eyelids or some such afterwards, but there is no way anyone could remain aware or feel any pain whatsoever.

And if its not you hang and fight while you slowly choke to death.

If the noose is properly applied, it causes a blood choke, which basically means that major arteries in the neck are constricted in such a way that blood doesn't reach the brain. Loss of consciousness results in 4-10 seconds, so no, you don't "slowly choke to death", even if your neck doesn't break.

I'd go with tossing them into molten lava. The others all have ways of screwing up, but if they fall into lava, within 2 seconds they're dead. It even saves the family from having to pay for a coffin!

Bullet in the back of the head when you're not expecting it. It's the WAITING to die that's the suffering.

Bullet in the back of the head when you're not expecting it. It's the WAITING to die that's the suffering.

How very NKVD. :p

old age....

but the most humane (can this be used in reference to executions?) would probably be a morphine drip. Just overdose them.

it is in many places

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Death_Penalty_World_Map.png

That's not a very accurate map. Several US states don't have the death penalty. My state abolished the death penalty in 1847.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Death_penalty_statutes_in_the_United_States.svg/800px-Death_penalty_statutes_in_the_United_States.svg.png

Shotgun in the face might be fast and painless, but we also might have a hard time finding non-deviant person who will enjoy doing this as a job given all the mess that result.

Shotgun in the face might be fast and painless, but we also might have a hard time finding non-deviant person who will enjoy doing this as a job given all the mess that result.

The judge who passed the sentence in the first place?

Why shouldn't judges both choose and carry out the punishment?

Some kind of gigantic explosion?

Death by Pancakes should be a poll option :(

Death by sexual exhaustion. *nod*

The most inhumane is "Death by pies thrown by LG playing God". Long, very long, and humiliating.;)

A real big gun, like a Desert Eagle, aimed a few cms away from the heart.
The heart would pretty much liquefy, so death'd be almost instanteous.

Do it while they're asleep and they'd never know.

I've heard a decapitated head survives for up to 30 seconds after the fact. I'm not sure if thats a fact or not, though.
This answers your query rather well:
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_262.html

Death by Snoo Snoo!

A real big gun, like a Desert Eagle, aimed a few cms away from the heart.
The heart would pretty much liquefy, so death'd be almost instanteous.

Do it while they're asleep and they'd never know.

I hear that what happens is that a well-aimed large-caliber shot to the heart causes explosive pressure, an explosion of blood destroying the blood vessels and arteries in and near the brain, which causes instant death. At least, that's what a big-game hunter told me once.

There is no humane method of execution.

QFT.

I didn't vote because I didn't want to throw off the results of this scientific poll.

:p

I honestly can't think a way of humane execution. The trauma suffered by the victim knowing the fact he is going to be killed itself is inhumane.

Have the inmate tied down on his back, shirtless on a table. A rat is then placed on his stomach, and a bowel is placed over the rat. A fire is then lit which makes the bowel become very heat. Desperate to escape from the heat, the rat has nowhere to go....but down...

Aside from the fact that you seem to have confused bowel with towel, how is this humane? It seems cruel to the rat.

QFT.
I honestly can't think a way of humane execution. The trauma suffered by the victim knowing the fact he is going to be killed itself is inhumane.

How about the classical soviet style? Day of execution undetermined - we all know we're going to die someday, don't we - then bullet into the back of the head on a random day while the condemned is walking through a corridor.

Anyway, death penalty is grossly unethical, if you ask me.

Death from old age.

Edit: Ok, that's already been said.

Well.. the *most* humane would be to allow the criminal to repeatedly act out his crime until he dies of pleasure.

If he's a thief, let him steal until he's so rich he dies of a drug overdose.

If he's a murderer, let him go about slaughtering people until he slips on blood and breaks his neck.

Rapist? Sexual exhaustion.

Arson? Dropped match.

Et al!

Amazing good sex to death-ed.

Obviously.

This answers your query rather well:
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_262.html

thanks, it was an interesting read.

http://www.grossefrau.de/bilder/caro.jpg
You are hereby condemned to Death by Snoo snoo!
!!!
stop talking and Bring it on !!! :D

A real big gun, like a Desert Eagle, aimed a few cms away from the heart.
The heart would pretty much liquefy, so death'd be almost instanteous.

Do it while they're asleep and they'd never know.

What tosh. Almost everyone posting in this thread clearly has no idea how death occurs. Death only occurs when the brain stops working, and it's actually very, very difficult to get it to do so instantaneously. A bullet in the brain could potentially have you remaining conscious and in infinite amounts of pain for about two seconds (there's even cases where someone has shot using a .45 Colt directly through their chin and out the top of their head and only died a few hours later in ER). A bullet in the heart for at least a minute (up to four) while your brain is starved of oxygen. Even if you decapitate someone, their brain may still function until it is starved of oxygen four minutes later.

The most "humane" way of killing someone is to not kill them at all.

Nitrogen Asphyxiation.

A .50 Browning machine gun to the head at point blank range....

Bullet in the back of the head when you're not expecting it. It's the WAITING to die that's the suffering.

But knowing you are sentanced to death and not knowing when it will happen would be the worst of all.

But knowing you are sentanced to death and not knowing when it will happen would be the worst of all.

How about the time coming to die but then at the last minute someone shouts "Gotcha!" and you get taken back to your cell. Repeat. Never knowing which time you actually will die and how many times they will screw with your mind. Nasty. :eek:

The most "humane" way of killing someone is to not kill them at all.

Ermmm. I just don't know what to say to this

Being shot in one's sleep I would imagine.....

I personally feel being decorated with sweeties and baked for an hour would be funnier.

Being shot in one's sleep I would imagine.....

I personally feel being decorated with sweeties and baked for an hour would be funnier.

Tastiness is next to humaneness.

I'm very opposed to capital punishment, but for the most painless way I'd opt for:

Relaxing drugs in pill form to numb the needle.

Then anaesthesia so you go to sleep.

Then a massive dose of morphine.

You know what would make an execution as humane as possible?

Administer Versed beforehand. It's an amnesic.

I agree with the person who said a shotgun to the head when drugged and asleep. Bullets to the body are not always fatal, and a bullet to the heart is not immediately fatal. A bullet to the brain can miss the vital bits, but a shotgun shot loaded with buckshot at point blank range...

Sorry, but that's not going to not kill you (especially if shot by a machine).

Plus, it may have the added bonus of showing execution witnesses what death is actually like. You want spectacle? You want retribution in your justice? Well, it's dirty and bloody and spatters all over the place. Can't stand it? Too bad.

I voted the shotgun.

From behind, without warning. Obviously without trial, since a trial could not be fair if the accused was not aware of the verdict (capital punishment.)

Not fair at all. But most humane.

EDIT: Not really knowing much about guns, I assumed the shotgun would annihilate consciousness the quickest. How about some kind of explosive shell then, entering the back of the head at the speed of sound?

Nuclear fusion detonation while within 10 meters of the 50 MT bomb.

Can't think of much faster and surer way to die...well, except for direct meteor strike, but that's quite difficult to arrange.

Though most humane punishment would be to kill those who were responsible for you having that sentence in the first place with you (tied to the same bomb :p) as, after all, they're clearly a life threatening danger to people also :D

Nitrogen asphyxiation.

your body doesn't even realize that it isn't getting any O2, because Nitrogen makes up most of our air.

This is an easy one...

Nuclear weapons test target. Never feel a thing.

Choice.

Choice.
Good idea.

I'd choose nuclear weapons testing target.

I'm definitely for the death penalty, but I don't think we should be going for "humane" methods of execution. If you've committed a heinous enough crime to warrant your death, then you certainly don't deserve a peaceful, quiet death. To be honest, I think the best way to kill someone is to douse them in gasoline and use a firing squad armed with flamethrowers.

I'm definitely for the death penalty, but I don't think we should be going for "humane" methods of execution. If you've committed a heinous enough crime to warrant your death, then you certainly don't deserve a peaceful, quiet death. To be honest, I think the best way to kill someone is to douse them in gasoline and use a firing squad armed with flamethrowers.
Aren't you a nice person?

Being shot in one's sleep I would imagine.....


A lot of people would spend their time on death row in a state of insomnia if that were the policy. Counting down the months to execution may be somewhat cruel, but at least the inmate can sleep without panicking. ;)

In my opinion, a simple gunshot to the head is the best form of execution. Unlike lethal injection, which has seen complications with the drug or delays in death, a nice head shot ALWAYS works and there are no complications or delays.

If a shotgun or rifle slug to the head doesn't kill you quickly and painlessly, you ain't natural.

In my opinion, a simple gunshot to the head is the best form of execution. Unlike lethal injection, which has seen complications with the drug or delays in death, a nice head shot ALWAYS works and there are no complications or delays.

If a shotgun or rifle slug to the head doesn't kill you quickly and painlessly, you ain't natural.

As mentioned previously, the brain is a complicated thing. A sufficiently powerful bullet can pass through one side and out the other, completely missing a great deal of brain matter related to consciousness and ability to feel pain, meaning the person shot will die of bleeding to death rather than severance of their sentience. I'll concede that a shotgun at point blank range would be highly effective, if messy.

The oinly way to be certain that (1) the prisoner dies and (2) the death is instantaneous is to totally destroy the brain. The only real ways to do it instantly with absolute certainty are a nuclear expolosion and molten lava, and the second is free while the first costs million of dollars (if not more!)

The oinly way to be certain that (1) the prisoner dies and (2) the death is instantaneous is to totally destroy the brain. The only real ways to do it instantly with absolute certainty are a nuclear expolosion and molten lava, and the second is free while the first costs million of dollars (if not more!)

Actually, there would be a large amount of pain if you dip someone's head into lava...

But only for a second or two, and then there isn't any head to feel pain.

I'm definitely for the death penalty, but I don't think we should be going for "humane" methods of execution. If you've committed a heinous enough crime to warrant your death, then you certainly don't deserve a peaceful, quiet death. To be honest, I think the best way to kill someone is to douse them in gasoline and use a firing squad armed with flamethrowers.

Of course you don't believe that though...

High-speed catapult + brick wall covered in spikes = win.

At the very least, it will be over quickly. *nods* :p

None. Capital punishment is inhumane by its very nature.

As mentioned previously, the brain is a complicated thing. A sufficiently powerful bullet can pass through one side and out the other, completely missing a great deal of brain matter related to consciousness and ability to feel pain, meaning the person shot will die of bleeding to death rather than severance of their sentience.

Most people who are shot in the head die of internal bleeding. If the bullet misses the major arteries, it's not terribly unlikely that the victim will survive. He may be brain damaged as a result, but the damage is probably not enough to kill him. Apart from the blood vessels, a relatively small amount of your brain matter is absolutely vital, and most of it is completely expendable.

Death by old age. Doesn't get any more humane than that.

Something that sends you gently into a sleep that you never wake from would be humane, although for a quick and inexpensive method, the guillotine would be good.

My opinion exactely. Just make sure that the blade is heavy enough to cut completely through in one go.

Death by old age. Doesn't get any more humane than that.

Besides old bones, arthritis, poor bladder control, and various illnesses? Maybe not that painful with proper medication, but hardly humane.

Drugged to sleep, then have the body placed in a chamber with lots of high explosives. Then when the explosives go off, the body is completely destroyed. That way they don't know what's hit them and they don't have a chance to feel pain.

Besides old bones, arthritis, poor bladder control, and various illnesses? Maybe not that painful with proper medication, but hardly humane.

Heh. Good point. :p

I suppose death is never exactly humane in the sense of being perfectly painless or dignified. The key is to do the best we can do when ending the lives of people who can't be trusted to live among us, or living to the end of our own lives.

most humane would probably be to quitely shoot them in the head while the're asleep, without all the big anxiety generating pomp and ritual, and with something that doesn't make any noise to wake them up or the other prisoners.

i'm pretty sure that's how i'd want it done to me if i were for some unforseeable reason to be sentenced to be terminated.

blackbug's suggestion sounds pretty good too. except make it nuke so all of my soul energy gets released at once.

=^^=
.../\...

Most people who are shot in the head die of internal bleeding. If the bullet misses the major arteries, it's not terribly unlikely that the victim will survive. He may be brain damaged as a result, but the damage is probably not enough to kill him. Apart from the blood vessels, a relatively small amount of your brain matter is absolutely vital, and most of it is completely expendable.

which is why the gun(shotgun preferably) should be aimed at the back base of the skull where the brain stem and parts used for conscience are. Anything else and you risk survival or a slower death.

which is why the gun(shotgun preferably) should be aimed at the back base of the skull where the brain stem and parts used for conscience are. Anything else and you risk survival or a slower death.
The brain stem is not responsible for consciousness. The brain stem regulates such boring functions as heart rate, blood pressure, etc. It also is responsible for the eyes ability to lock onto moving objects, which is why brain dead people who, though dead for all intents and purposes, will still track your movement. I believe the actual spot where the 'I' takes place is high in the frontal cortex, an inch or two above the forehead. Although, of course, the brain can not be considered as a complete hierarchy, with one place governing all others. The spot I mention simply seems to be responsible for choosing actions.

Anything that will deal Sudden Nerve Trauma. Enough of it, and the body just turns off, like the most high has flipped your "Life Switch" to "Off."

Although, the Nitrogen Asphyxiation does sound good as well. The idea of them not knowing they are dieing as they suffocate is Ironic, as most people think of Asphyxiation as a violent thing. This would be the most humane way to send them to their doom.

Lethal injection, but replace current drugs with morphine.

Painless by definition.

Telling a person to drop dead. ;)

Death by old age. Doesn't get any more humane than that.

Heh heh. "You are hereby condemned to die of old age". Man, I'd be sure to use all my appeals to avoid that horrendous punishment. Of course, if you're lucky you might get off on parole ;)

I heard on NPR (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15492117)a while ago that the firing squad is actually the fastest, most humane way to die, with fewer chances to screw up than lethal injection. Of course, most people associate firing squads with the purging of enemies of a military junta, or a New Yorker cartoon, and it's thus unpopular.

Something that sends you gently into a sleep that you never wake from would be humane, although for a quick and inexpensive method, the guillotine would be good.

Agreed.

Death by forced Tellytubbies watching.

Oh wait. You said humane. :p

Shotgun mouthwash!

Never having been through capital punishment myself, I cannot really comment on which method is the least painful. However, there is one man we can ask.
Jesus. *nods*

Never having been through capital punishment myself, I cannot really comment on which method is the least painful. However, there is one man we can ask.
Jesus. *nods*

But he only went through one type. He would have try others for him to truly compare. Besides, even the US doesn't use crucifixion (unless, you know, the person really deserves it).

But he only went through one type. He would have try others for him to truly compare. Besides, even the US doesn't use crucifixion (unless, you know, the person really deserves it).

I know, but we can eliminate or keep one at a time.
There must be some more famous people that came back to life after execution.
In the Good Book, I believe LG was sacrificed by pie-ering squad and ressurected after a ritual mudbath.

Tie someone on a chair, duck tape a plastic explosive on their forehead. Boom. No more brain. This can also avoid executioner confrontation since you can have multiple people press the button just like lethal injection and electric chair.

But what I would like doing is set the timer in front of him for 5 hours. The person will then have all the time in the world to think about what he/she did. Let the timer work it's magic by making that 5 hours seem like a lifetime. It just seems more humane for the victims of the crime that way.

Tie someone on a chair, duck tape a plastic explosive on their forehead. Boom. No more brain. This can also avoid executioner confrontation since you can have multiple people press the button just like lethal injection and electric chair.

But what I would like doing is set the timer in front of him for 5 hours. The person will then have all the time in the world to think about what he/she did. Let the timer work it's magic by making that 5 hours seem like a lifetime. It just seems more humane for the victims of the crime that way.
The victims of the crimes are dead. Torturing their killer does no more good than leaving a plate of cookies on their graves.

This is not a debate of whether capital punishment should be around or not, so don't bring it into this. Since it is here and seems it will be for some time, what do you feel is the most humane method to carry it out?

I tend to think simply a shotgun to the head is the quickest and least painful option though it probably isn't the most practical. However I think lethal injection could be a good method but not how it is currently administered. The drugs used should probably be changed as there are many questions as to whether the current drugs really offer a painless death. There will be a poll

edit- please don't vote 'other' if by 'other' you mean "I don't believe in the death penalty". That would throw off the results.
None of them. The death penalty is outdated, cruel, immoral, unethical, and downright wrong.

The victims of the crimes are dead. Torturing their killer does no more good than leaving a plate of cookies on their graves.

The ones who are suffering are those who are still living. It's debatable rather or not a person is consider a victim if someone kill his/her spouse/family/children/friend/etc but how inhumane is it to give a criminal extra time to think about what he/she did? It's like giving a timeout to a kid but a little more intense.

The ones who are suffering are those who are still living. It's debatable rather or not a person is consider a victim if someone kill his/her spouse/family/children/friend/etc but how inhumane is it to give a criminal extra time to think about what he/she did? It's like giving a timeout to a kid but a little more intense.

In that case, it's kind of a cruel joke. "I'm going to give you time to think about what you did. Have you realized what a bad thing that was? Okay, now I'm going to blow your head away." :)

Most humane? Put the inmate on a spit, put the spit over an open fire, then slowly turn it. Make sure s/he's awake enough to scream.

this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Qt5jj5WzfM&feature=related) :p

I was wondering why the rat didn't chew through the bowel, too.

Okay, back to the question at hand.

It isn't humane, but it is fair. The convict should die in the same way his victim died. Strangled, shot, drowned, etc...

I didn't vote because I didn't want to throw off the results of this scientific poll.

What if they cannibalized them alive?

Dear reader,

The assumption of this particular fora is capital punishment, upon being found guilty of a crime.

Question:
why must the punishment be humane?

Humans can follow simple basic laws. Chivilry, fraternaty, equality, compassion, honesty, truth. these are ideals that are there for anyone to live up to, and live by. All which have no regards for sex, sexuality, net worth, skin colour, religion, language or any other excuses.

Criminals chose not to better themselves; chose the path of the hypocrite, the lazy, the leech.

An inhumane punishment treats them as the trash they are. Humane capital punishment spends too much time on the a$$-hole. Get rid of them, frak the ceremony, and send them to Hel.

It is the want of both options; getting rid of trash, but not want to be seen as evil. = ego-stroking mental-masterbatory horse squares. :headbang:

get over the fact some pathetic criminal died by your hand.

just like you get over the fact that by the inaction of your hand, with out your charity money to India, hundreds died of malneutrition, in the time it took you to read this. And you did not save even one.

its the same basic principle.
drama = :upyours:
-Rafe
OOC-ish

I realise that but this way you've got little chance of missing unless you're a storm trooper at a shooting range aiming at Skywalker. ;)

Tell that to all the people that lived through the first round ... weather because of misses or deliberate acts

http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2006/s1569018.htm

An executioner talking of the squad leader having to come in and finish the job when the first round misses.

Most humane? Put the inmate on a spit, put the spit over an open fire, then slowly turn it. Make sure s/he's awake enough to scream.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Humane

Well, there are many ways to kill a man.

I think the only legitimate one is to let him expire of natural causes.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Humane

Some people need to understand words, eh?

This is not a debate of whether capital punishment should be around or not, so don't bring it into this. Since it is here and seems it will be for some time, what do you feel is the most humane method to carry it out?

I tend to think simply a shotgun to the head is the quickest and least painful option though it probably isn't the most practical. However I think lethal injection could be a good method but not how it is currently administered. The drugs used should probably be changed as there are many questions as to whether the current drugs really offer a painless death. There will be a poll

edit- please don't vote 'other' if by 'other' you mean "I don't believe in the death penalty". That would throw off the results.


The most humane form of execution? Choice. Allow them to choose from hanging, firing squad, lethal injection, or if they're murderers, they can die in the same manner as their victims. Personally, I hate needles, and a firing squad seems so anti-climatic. I'd choose hanging.

Some people need to understand words, eh?

Yeah they were not even close

Death by old age.

*runs*

The most humane form of execution I know of is the lethal injection method used by the US justice department. It uses the following method.

1: Inject the subject with a large quantity of barbiturates until they are in a comatose state.

2: Inject the subject with 100mg of Pancuronium bromide, this will block the action of acetylcholine, leading to paralysis and death from asphyxiation when the diaphragm becomes paralyzed.

3: Follow this up with an injection of 100mEq of Potassium chloride to cause cardiac arrest.

Notes: Particular care should be taken at stage one to ensure that the subject is in a comatose state before proceeding to stages 2 and 3. Under no circumstances should the drugs be allowed to mix externally as this will lead to them precipitating and losing their effectiveness.

Death by a massive overdose of chocolate

Some people need to understand words, eh?

so humane punishment is an oxymoron. :p

Death by a massive overdose of chocolate

A 300ish death by toothbrush (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNqiSkd1M6k)

BRUSH YOUR TEEEEETH!!!!!!! :p

No, it isn't.

Indeed it isn't.


Death by sexual exhaustion. *nod*

I wonder how many people have actually died of that... Such a method of execution might actually drive up crime levels: eek:

In that case, it's kind of a cruel joke. "I'm going to give you time to think about what you did. Have you realized what a bad thing that was? Okay, now I'm going to blow your head away." :)

But if we look at it that way life itself is a cruel joke knowing that all our destination is death no matter how hard you work in life.

I would much prefer giving them life sentence than killing them. It's cheaper and serves more justice than just giving them an easy way out. I don't have the exact source at the moment but studies have shown that many prisoners who have a life sentence, knowing that they will be jailed for the rest of their life, prefer capital punishment over what they have.

5 month gravedig!

I decided on nitrogen narcosis as my chosen method of suicide, so it is obviously the most painless (technically asphyxiation, but the nitrogen narcosis shuts the brain down so I just drift away). Just go for one last SCUBA trip and dive a little deep... youll never even realize.

Essentially just administer a sedative or narcotic to put the person out, then do whatever you want to them. It wont really matter.


I hear that what happens is that a well-aimed large-caliber shot to the heart causes explosive pressure, an explosion of blood destroying the blood vessels and arteries in and near the brain, which causes instant death. At least, that's what a big-game hunter told me once.

Total and utter crap.
Shot a deer with a 12 gage slug. It jumped and ran about 100 yards before finally collapsing dead (amazing creature). The butcher commented that there was nothing left of the heart as it had been practically liquefied by the slug. Obviously, reducing the heart to some fibrous goo didnt kill it right away; I dont know what caliber shot that guy was using, but I generally dont take howitzers out to the woods.

A friend of mine OD'ed on heroine and had to be resuscitated, and he told me it was a great way to die.

A friend of mine OD'ed on heroine and had to be resuscitated, and he told me it was a great way to die.

How do you OD on heroine? :D

Firing squad, because it's cool and if you survive, you might get pardoned.

The Chinese probably have the right of it - 9mm pistol to the brainstem. Instantaneous oblivion.

Who cares about humanitarianism? If they are gonna die, do it cheaply. Just lock all the prisoners up to starve. It's not like they aren't bad guys anyway.

2 fast 2 furious reference, eh?I don't know about that and I don't think it's exact to 1984 but I read a story about that happening in the 1st Pan book of horror. I can't remember how old it is but it's definitely from before I was born.

Who cares about humanitarianism? If they are gonna die, do it cheaply. Just lock all the prisoners up to starve. It's not like they aren't bad guys anyway.

Because if you care about the way that you put them down you're most of the time not sinking to their level... just.

Because if you care about the way that you put them down you're most of the time not sinking to their level... just.

Thats self serving doo-doo. If we are killing them, its eye for an eye justice already. We aren't really at their level, though because our killing is for the good of society. We may as well serve society cheaply, so the money that would be wasted keeping condemed jerks alive for 20 years of appeals could be used to improve education and welfare to reduce the crime rates in the first place.

Firing squad, because it's cool and if you survive, you might get pardoned.
Why would you get pardoned if you survive?
Who cares about humanitarianism?
Humans, generally.

it is in many places

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Death_Penalty_World_Map.png
So basically, the US is in league with about one half of African countries and most Asian countries, i.e. mostly 3rd world countries. :eek:

Old age.
Bravo!! Best answer and thread winner!! :D

I vote OTHER, with old age being the capital punishment!!

...because our killing is for the good of society.

One could argue on a case-by-case basis that the killer's killing is also for the good of society.

Humans, generally.Executed humans?

Who cares about humanitarianism? If they are gonna die, do it cheaply. Just lock all the prisoners up to starve. It's not like they aren't bad guys anyway.

The cheapest method is to shoot the guy and harvest his/her organs. The fresh organs that you can harvest at a cost of a bullet is far better than just starving the guy. Not only are we talking about conserving cost here but also help save innocent lives in the process. It also makes the death process quick and less painful so it's a win win situation for both the criminal and the tax payers. Rather or not this will serve justice to the crime however is another matter.

Executed humans?
Being dead I doubt they care about anything, really.
The cheapest method is to shoot the guy and harvest his/her organs.
People always say this, but somethin re-usable, like a gillotine, would be cheaper in the long run.
Not only are we talking about conserving cost here but also help save innocent lives in the process.
Eh, what? I get the saving lives, but not the innocent. Unless you're suggesting that people with a criminal record be precluded from receiving organ transplants.
It also makes the death process quick and less painful so it's a win win situation for both the criminal and the tax payers.
Yeah, dying is a real win on the part of the criminal.

I voted other in the intention of having them cryogenically frozen. Look, we're going to need test subjects on the defreezing procedure; might as well use the guys we'd be otherwise killing now.

Among the "other", freezing or microwaving the brain is quick and relatively painless.
Microwaving the brain, however, might not result in a fatality for some classes of people - politicians, sports stars and pop singers come to my mind.

Bravo!! Best answer and thread winner!! :D

I vote OTHER, with old age being the capital punishment!!I knew after that many pages someone must have beaten me to it... :(

Press on the CAPS LOCK key and type punishment.

Firing squad: five men shooting you with large calibre rifles at a distance less than 2m == owned.

Nitrogen asphyxiation. I'm opposed to the death penalty, but this seems potentially to be a more humane and cheaper method than those currently used.

Instantaneous atomic incineration.

So basically, the US is in league with about one half of African countries and most Asian countries, i.e. mostly 3rd world countries. :eek:

Yes, it's the country's way of slumming.

Stoning isn't in the poll.

Yes, it's the country's way of slumming.
Yeah, and it is kind a sad, and dare I say uncivilized.

This is not a debate of whether capital punishment should be around or not, so don't bring it into this. Since it is here and seems it will be for some time, what do you feel is the most humane method to carry it out?

I tend to think simply a shotgun to the head is the quickest and least painful option though it probably isn't the most practical. However I think lethal injection could be a good method but not how it is currently administered. The drugs used should probably be changed as there are many questions as to whether the current drugs really offer a painless death. There will be a poll

edit- please don't vote 'other' if by 'other' you mean "I don't believe in the death penalty". That would throw off the results.

Application of strong sedative (sleeping pills) followed by lethal injection while the subject's asleep.

Yeah, and it is kind a sad, and dare I say uncivilized.

Uncivilized? LMFAO!

Killing is the hallmark of the 'civilized'!

Death by pushing off of tall building. I would hope the drop would give the criminal a chance to feel real contrition before they become pate.