The Dawn of a New Form of Capital Punishment (Nitrogen)

Time Magazine ^ | April 2015 | Josh Sanborn

[Titus-Maximus]

Why Oklahoma became the first state to approve nitrogen gas as a lethal injection alternative

In the weeks following the execution of Clayton Lockett, the Oklahoma death row inmate whose botched lethal injection triggered a statewide moratorium on executions, lawmakers there began rethinking their approach to capital punishment. Among the people they called on to help was Michael Copeland.

Copeland is a criminal justice professor at East Central University, a public school with about 6,000 students in Ada, Okla. From 2010 to 2013, he was the director of the anti-fraud unit at the Oklahoma Insurance Department. Before that, he was an assistant attorney general for the Republic of Palau, a small island nation in the Pacific Ocean. Copeland is not a doctor. He has no medical training. But what he does have is a close relationship with Oklahoma legislators, some of whom he’s known for years. And they often ask Copeland to conduct research and gather data that could help shape bills. He’s worked with legislators on reducing the number of uninsured motorists, for example, and helped draft guidelines for the transportation of the mentally ill who are a danger to themselves and others

[Ouderkirk]

Helium is better. The pass out instantly, and the helium passes through the skin as well as through the lungs. Death is almost instantaneous.

[sparklite2]

It’s a interesting subject. I read somewhere, maybe here, that an excess of CO2 in the lungs is what triggers heavier breathing to displace it. And since this is such an integral part of being alive, it’s wired in. However, an excess of nitrogen, which after all comprises most of the air we breathe, triggers no such response. So there is no feeling up being out of breath or needing to gasp. The lack of oxygen getting to the brain puts you away.

[Jan_Sobieski]

Why not Scaphism? I heard it worked for the Persians, and resulted in very little crime throughout the empire.

[Gay State Conservative]

Cue the “cruel and unusual” chorus.

[Carl Vehse]

"Botched executions."

In addition to dealing with 'mother stabbers' and 'father rapers,' we need to bring our execution techniques up to speed for the eventual trials, convictions, and sentencing for treason, crimes against humanity, etc, of Traitorobama, leading Demonicrats, and the fifth-column leftist media.

Their public executions, following their trials and convictions, should not be done willy-nilly, or based on some flaring emotions of the moment.

Recognized, respected, and honorable professionals should be consulted. One such person, who left a detail account of techniques in his long career, was presented by Vanderbilt history professor Joel F. Harrington in his book, The Faithful Executioner (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013) - the story of Frantz Schmidt (1554-1634), who executed almost 400 people in various ways and flogged or disfigured many more during his 45-year career. Schmidt kept a diary with 621 entries about his executions and corporal punishments. Despite his professional duties, Schmidt was a sober, reliable family man and pious Christian, one who reluctantly but honorably pursued his vocation.

A brief summary of Schmidt's vocation (with some gory details!) is in Richard J. Evans's book review article, "Broken by the wheel - the diary of an executioner." A less gory, but still informative, discussion of the responsibilities of Frantz Schmidt, and how he carried out his job, is in an Interview with Prof. Joel F. Harrington.

[digger48]

I had to look that one up. Wow!

Not even FReepers are that creative when discussing child abusers/killers, and I’ve seen some dandies.

[X-spurt]

A cure for Death Row over-crowding; place a crate of claw hammers in the cell block, open the doors and announce that the last one alive will be set free.

When the last one comes out, shoot him for being too dangerous for society.

[daniel1212]

No head-chopping, thank you. Leave that to the French who showed how out of control they were, and the Moslems.

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4)

Not that I hold to the pre-trib Rapture theology )I think its the resurrection, or think the movie from which the below is from, but here it is for illustration.

http://www.itbn.org/index/detail/ec/14cWswMzrMSeiqy6CBPkY8DkyawVbeOD#ooid=14cWswMzrMSeiqy6CBPkY8DkyawVbeOD

[glorgau]

Explosives too messy?

[Clay Moore]

Some years ago, I was filling CO2 cylinders and a safety popped off as it did periodically in the summer.

There was little ventilation that day and as I reached in to turn off the valve, I realized that I was getting woozy real fast so I backed out.

That said CO2 would not be my first choice but just use whatever is cheapest.

[grey_whiskers]

Bring back below-ground nuclear testing...?
Instantaneous: one would be ionized before the pain signals have a chance to propagate from the extremities to the brain...

[elcid1970]

For jihadis I propose the “Spandau Ballet”.

The noose rope is attached to a bucket lift which elevates said jihadi onto his tippy toes for as long as he lasts.

Makes for great vid.

[CrazyIvan]

I have had mild nitrogen narcosis while scuba diving at 120’. It was rather pleasant. If they're looking for a humane way to kill somebody they could do worse.

[dfwgator]

For jihadis I propose the "Spandau Ballet".

Yeah, if I had to listen to "True" over and over again, I'd pray for death too.

[RaceBannon]

I almost drowned once, I literally gave up and floated to the bottom of the surf

it was painless, I was just set, I had no hope, didnt have a breath left in me, been underwater in the foam for over 2 minutes in the undertow and breakers

my shoulder hit bottom and I knew it was my last chance

I was in no pain

[mosaicwolf]

Murderers should be executed in the same fashion they murdered a person. Simple...shot someone; executioner shoots them. Stab someone; executioner stabs them. Bludgeoned someone, they get bludgeoned. Kind of a refined example of eye for an eye don’t you think?

[Organic Panic]

Not only would this be good but the condemned could make one last gesture of humanity and donate his or her organs.

[elcid1970]

IIRC, the term Spandau Ballet comes from the fact that some of the condemned Nazis at Nuremberg died slowly from hanging even after the trapdoor dropped.

The rock band of that name I am unfamiliar with.

I’m old. I’m still trying to process Strawberry Alarm Clock. Or is it Raspberry Wristwatch?

;^)

[Ben Ficklin]

"use the exact same method they use to euthanize strays at the shelter"

20 plus years ago at the Garland, Tx animal control they used a vacuum chamber, and I suppose they still do.

It took only 3-4 seconds. But the bodies were severely distorted/collapsed/shrunken in the process, so that may not be acceptable for a human.

[Publius]

Spandau Ballet: "True" (1984)

The Strawberry Alarm Clock: "Incense and Peppermints" (1967)