What is the most humane form of capital punishment?
466780
I still think that a firing squad is the most humane.  It's quick, almost instantaneous, and none of the men on the squad knows who shot a real bullet or who shot a blank.  In lethal injection, the condemned convulse (just like in electrocution).  Beheading might be more accurate (the firing squad could all miss) but seems to be more of a show for the public (see French Revolution or Saudia Arabia) as a deterent.  Hanging is even less accurate (see Thrice Hung John of English lore).  I must admit though, I'm against capital punishment because of economic reasons.  The extra costs of court appeals, lethal injections (or electrocutions) upon taxpayers is much more than most people realize.
978301
Death penalty laws are social engineering. I cannot subscribe to the ethics of social engineering. As a nurse who has worked in the system with pedophiles, I know also that episodic imprisonment is ineffective. They are relentless. I support the only known ethical solution which is chemical castration.  But, then again, I believe in that for Conservatives, too.
1079662
' condemned to dead ' ?! I thought the whole planet was. Capital punishment statistics. Look under that on the net.
152621
Capital punishment serves as the best deterent. There will be crime though but the penalty for getting caught will be severe so lesser crimes can be expected.\n\nIn my opinion, everyone has done one thing or the other in his/her life, an inmate is one who gets caught the rest are innocent. No one actually is.
1180119
I think the most positive effect of the death penalty here in America is that it really pisses off all those pinko commie bleeding heart Europeans.\n\nI think that's more than enough of a reason to keep it around.
1153874
I have no objection to capitol punishment.  I agree that if the criminal is truly guilty, beyond a shadow of doubt, then by all means, eliminate him from society in the most expeditious manner available!\n\nUnfortunately, the modern US legal system isn't perfect.  There have been several cases in the past where a person convicted of a crime and sentenced to death has later been proved innocent of that crime.  \n\nWould you want to be the one who pushes the button on an innocent man?
1087557
I'd address three topics:\n\n1.Is it justified (eg. eye for an eye, revenge Vs rehabilitation, rights of the victim and their family, risk of miscarriage etc)\n2.Is it effective (eg. is it a deterent, does it make better societies, is it cheaper than permanent incarceration etc)\n3.Is it legal (eg. is it a cruel and unusual punishment, the position of international law, etc)\n\nYou've probably been asked the US/UK part because we are fairly similar societies with a largely common ancestry\nand tradition, but the UK abolished the death penalty whilst much of the US still uses it.  You can go two ways on this - \n1. the US is a much younger society still in a vigourous development phase facing the challenges of it's huge size and diversity so frontier justice is still appropriate (similar claims for China by the way, the other big executor).  when the UK was trying to hold a huge empire together it executed loads of people too.\n2. the existence in the US of a more fundemental christianity gives people a different perspective on life (and death) from the broadly humanist (post christian) views in Europe (including the UK) where morality is more personal and less something learned from religion.  Religious Europe was a very bloody place indeed for hundreds of years.\n\nHope this helps, BTW my opinion is that it is as morally justifiable as war.  I really don't want to have to do it, but sometimes I might have to protect my family and society.  Right now I think both our societies could live without capital punishment, and therefore should - but that could change.
516696
well, i don't like to think that we have the right to take a human life.....on the other hand, my cousin was murdered and her assassin got 7 years.  He should have died.  After all he took her life.  Our prison system does not rehabilitate nor can it simply because the people inside are sociopaths.  so yeah, I'm for the death penalty and lethal injection is probably the least messy choice.
1051320
Capital punishment was recentlyreinstated and applies to those convicted of murder, distribution of drugs and endangering national security,  The manner of execution is by hanging.  See Article 12 of Iraqi Law #10.
999578
All of those forms have some draw backs.\n\nPerhaps the guys on the firing squad were up late the night before on a drinking binge, and their aim and general demeanor is not what it should be when they aim for the heart...and miss.  Oops.\n\nSitting in a chair being flash fried can't be all that humane and there have been several instances in which inmates were not instantly killed, but had to be subjected to multiple electric shocks.\n\n"Hanged by the neck until dead."  Well, what happens if the neck in question doesn't snap immediately?  The person just dangles and jerks around as they slowly asphyxiate.  \n\nAnd lethal injection?  Well, out of the four you mention, that's probably the most humane...a little pin prick and two intravenous catheters are inserted in the arms and the chemicals are magical injected and the person dies within 7 minutes.  (hopefully)\n\nIs there a humane way to put someone to death?  Probably not.  But then again what's humane about the death penalty?
2165
The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. It violates the right to life. It is irrevocable and can be inflicted on the innocent and has never been shown to deter crime more effectively than other punishments.\nNo I don't believe in the Death Penalty.\nCheck out the link below for more information.
899454
To answer your question and to refute the genius who compared captial punishment to abortion:\n\nThe fact is, yes, there have been far too many instances where people have been put to death then later found innocent.  Our judicial system needs to put policies in place that will prevent this from EVER happening.  But generally, if a person, without a doubt, has been convicted of a malicious crime, they should be put to death.  How sane is it to allow someone who raped, tortured and killed a young girl to sit in a jail cell and live off taxpayer money?  If that individual feels someone INNOCENT deserves to die, why should they be allowed to live?  Again, I believe there should be WITHOUT a doubt concrete evidence against a person who is put on death row.\nAnd concerning abortion...unborn babies have not committed heinous crimes.
651546
thief....cut off a hand or 2\nmurder.....death penalty (they will never do it again)
834183
This goes to the suggestion, attributed by a Y! Q/R Answerer on the French list, to a commentator on a French Radio talk show "Grosses Têtes" citing Jules Ferry (19th Century Minister of Education, who is credited with the establishment of the right to free secular education in France): that instead of capital punishment, convicts should have their eyes gouged out.\n\nI've been unable to confirm the attribution, and am still trying.
1185434
NOTHING is absolutely painless.  Not even sex.  The Constitution speaks out against "Cruel and unusual punishment."  In France, they still use the guillotine.  Since it is used as a standard, it is not crueler to one than to another and not unusual.  The bleeding hearts feel that WE have to be kinder and gentler, but not the killers.  The problem IS, there are still TOO MANY Innocent individuals being railroaded into a conviction.  If we could get the cops to do an honest job, then I would be in favor of turning a convicted killer over to the surviving family to deal with as they feel fit.
874358
If I were going to die, I would choose lethal injection, I guess. We could always implement an overdose execution then at least the criminals could go off into lala land happily....BUT, that's too easy for them. I say hang em.
268411
I fully support capital punishment. The only real problem with capital punishment is how long it takes from conviction and sentencing to execution. Upon conviction and imposition of the death sentence, there should be an immediate and thourough appeal review. If that review also concurrs with the conviction and sentence then sentence should be carried out expeditiously. In my opinion the time between sentence and exectution should be less than 30 days.\n\nAll punishments should be swift and sure. Then they really WILL act as deterrents. Even without the deterrent factor, removing a murderer from society will always be a wortwhile act.\n\nWhile we are at it we should return capital punishment to desertion and treason.