Idaho poised to allow firing-squad executions in some cases

[Saint Frankenstein]

Dear lord, who thinks the guillatine is humane?! People's heads are still alive like 18 or so seconds after being decapitated that we know of!

You lose consciousness within a second or so due to rapid loss of blood pressure in the brain, not to mention the severing of the spinal cord. Any signs of life after that are just nerves dying, reflexes and things settling. But regardless of some automatic activity, the most important thing is the rapid loss of consciousness.

 

[Soandso]

You lose consciousness within a second or so due to rapid loss of blood pressure in the brain. Any signs of life after that are just nerves dying, reflexes and things settling.

Hmmm, seems I was wrong. After looking into it more it does seem that scientists think it does take a few seconds, not 18 like I thought. Interesting, but still terrible. Inhumane, for sure. Thanks!

 

[Stevicus]

Dear lord, who thinks the guillatine is humane?! People's heads are still alive like 18 or so seconds after being decapitated that we know of!

Well, compared to the other alternatives, it may still be the lesser among many evils. After all, hanging is pretty nasty - and even some decapitations have resulted from that. Electric chair can also take several minutes if something goes wrong. Lethal gas also has had instances where it took a while for an inmate to die, in agony the whole time. Then there were botched lethal injections which also caused the inmate to die after several minutes of agony.

Firing squad seems quick - or a bullet in the back of the head. As for the guillotine, 18 or 25 seconds is still quicker than the other forms listed.

 

[We Never Know]

You lose consciousness within a second or so due to rapid loss of blood pressure in the brain, not to mention the severing of the spinal cord. Any signs of life after that are just nerves dying, reflexes and things settling. But regardless of some automatic activity, the most important thing is the rapid loss of consciousness.

I once watched a video of the cartel beheading a woman. When they held her head up she was moving her eyes looking around for a few seconds. It was weird and gory

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Hmmm, seems I was wrong. After looking into it more it does seem that scientists think it does take a few seconds, not 18 like I thought. Interesting, but still terrible. Inhumane, for sure. Thanks!

You're welcome. The important thing here is how quickly you lose consciousness, not really total death, which happens in stages in the different organs and tissues.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I once watched a video of the cartel beheading a woman. When they held her head up she was moving her eyes looking around for a few seconds. It was weird and gory

Yes, I've seen a lot of beheadings in videos, myself. I've seen that, too. They're not conscious at that point, though. They can't be as their spinal cord is severed and the rapid loss of blood pressure in the brain. Also, in those videos, the beheading isn't instant, they saw at their neck, often use duller knives and it takes a bit (they torture these people to death to scare people), so they're definitely gone by the time the head is off. Like I said, it's dying nerves, reflexes and so on.

 

[fantome profane]

Depends. Theres definitely been cases in the past where firing squad executions have been botched just like every other kind of execution. Also depends on the method

Some firing squads give most of the shooters blanks, and some are given live rounds. This is to keep the shooters guessing if they actually killed the person or not, as to alleviate the emotional burden of killing a man. Not sure if it works, but it was a common practice in the past

Makes you wonder, who are they going to get to be part of a firing squad? Who is applying for that job?

 

[Stevicus]

Makes you wonder, who are they going to get to be part of a firing squad? Who is applying for that job?

In Idaho? I imagine they would probably get some applicants.

 

[Soandso]

In Idaho? I imagine they would probably get some applicants.

For sure

 

[Shadow Wolf]

About 25 seconds after the blow, >by this account<.

Yeah, anytime I've checked or seen it does not seem to be that quick. It would probably be rather terrifying knowing what happened and waiting to go unconscious.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Don't need marksmen at such close range.

True, but given how inmates tend to be treated I wouldn't trust prisons to make sure would-be executioners can actually hit their mark like they absolutely need to.

 

[Revoltingest]

No physical pain, but I'm sure the mental and emotional aspects would be hell.

I'd enjoy one helluva ride before landing.
BTW, I'm pro-choice in executions, ie, the
condemned chooses from options.

And no, you don't get the option of the
execution in Monty Python's The Meaning
Of Llife.

 

[Revoltingest]

Depends. Theres definitely been cases in the past where firing squad executions have been botched just like every other kind of execution. Also depends on the method

Some firing squads give most of the shooters blanks, and some are given live rounds. This is to keep the shooters guessing if they actually killed the person or not, as to alleviate the emotional burden of killing a man. Not sure if it works, but it was a common practice in the past

I'm aware of the rare survivor of a firing squad.
But the overall success rate is stellar.
As for on round being a blank, that's stupid.
Auction off the right to be in the firing squad.

 

[Revoltingest]

True, but given how inmates tend to be treated I wouldn't trust prisons to make sure would-be executioners can actually hit their mark like they absolutely need to.

Instead of firing offhand, it could be benchrest.

 

[metis]

Hmm, hanging, beheading (guillotine in this case) and shooting are all relatively painless and free of suffering if done right. You could say the same about gas and lethal injection, too. But I don't count those as they take longer amounts of time. I choose guillotine because it's basically instant and hard to screw up.

Which leads me to this question: Which would you prefer, being executed by being burned at the stake or have your head chopped off? The best answer is below:






A hot steak is always better than a cold chop!

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Instead of firing offhand, it could be benchrest.

These are prison goons. I assume some would require remedial firearms instruction.

 

[Eddi]

Pump em full of morphine. They will feel good, go to sleep and die quietly

I was just going to say, simply administer a massive overdose of heroin

That's how I'd like to be executed, if I could choose the method myself

 

[Revoltingest]

These are prison goons. I assume some would require remedial firearms instruction.

Government should auction the right to shoot
the prisoner to the highest civilian bidders.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Government should auction the right to shoot
the prisoner to the highest civilian bidders.

It may serve to make some people realize everyone is still human.
But the way things get botched now I can't see this being any better. And killing is illegal and that is one situation where I do believe the state should say no for the protection of all involved. Data shows us even county clerks having anything to do with capital punishment cases are at risk of getting very stressed about it, especially the reality of the possibility of mistakes and the literal life-or-death urgency of it if anything comes in about it.

 

[Revoltingest]

It may serve to make some people realize everyone is still human.
But the way things get botched now I can't see this being any better. And killing is illegal and that is one situation where I do believe the state should say no for the protection of all involved. Data shows us even county clerks having anything to do with capital punishment cases are at risk of getting very stressed about it, especially the reality of the possibility of mistakes and the literal life-or-death urgency of it if anything comes in about it.

Of course, I oppose the death penalty (for other reasons).