265-gr., 2,305 fps, 3,126 ft-lbs
Posted on 12/16/2006 6:41:03 PM PST by doug from upland
Firing Squad
Firing squad still remains a method of execution in Idaho, although lethal injection as an alternative method is allowed. The most recent execution by this method was that of John Albert Taylor. By his own choosing, Taylor was executed by firing squad in Utah on January 26, 1996. For execution by this method, the inmate is typically bound to a chair with leather straps across his waist and head, in front of an oval-shaped canvas wall. The chair is surrounded by sandbags to absorb the inmate's blood. A black hood is pulled over the inmate's head. A doctor locates the inmate's heart with a stethoscope and pins a circular white cloth target over it. Standing in an enclosure 20 feet away, five shooters are armed with .30 caliber rifles loaded with single rounds. One of the shooters is given blank rounds. Each of the shooters aims his rifle through a slot in the canvas and fires at the inmate. (Weisberg, 1991) The prisoner dies as a result of blood loss caused by rupture of the heart or a large blood vessel, or tearing of the lungs. The person shot loses consciousness when shock causes a fall in the supply of blood to the brain. If the shooters miss the heart, by accident or intention, the prisoner bleeds to death slowly. (Hillman, 1992 and Weisberg, 1991)
The method of execution should not be the state's decision; it should be whatever means of execution the killer used on his victim(s). In that way the killer is selecting the means of execution of their own free will.
I don't think the Supreme Court would ever allow strangulation with a telephone cord.
Well, at 20 feet? at 200 yds would be better, and serve as a targer practice as well, with scoped rifles. And as for the quickest - exploding helmet [like in the implosion nukes] with converging shock waves would destroy the brain and the pain centers in it in about 10 microseconds, versus 20-30 seconds for a heart shot.
Dang, I missed, hit him in the kneecap though.
Does that count or do I get another try?
Bullets can go off the mark … Madam guillotine always hits the mark.
I know it wouldn't work. Too many people who yawned when an infant is raped and strangled would go crazy if the murderer suffered in any way.
I don't think the Supreme Court would ever allow strangulation with a telephone cord.
Probably some sort of Interstate Commerce clause thing,
or maybe you'd have to pay a tariff or something.
265-gr., 2,305 fps, 3,126 ft-lbs
Agreed--and the guillotine blade is reusable. Very ecologically correct. Plus, there's no risk of the condemned getting lead poisoning from the bullet...
Cordite around the neck, modern guillotine!
--yep--nobody ever had to be guilliotined twice--
there is little chance that the spine would be missed - that shuts things down instantaneously
They were placed in a sealed iron cage hung from the bowsprit. They had one bottle of beer, a loaf of bread and a knife. They had the choice of cutting the line holding the cage and drowning quickly or dying slowly of dehydration. Either way, execution was at their own hands.
I'm sure we could update the process a bit.
I had the feeling this would become an interesting thread. :)
I'd sooner die by a shot to the base of the skull.
That, or by taking off the air mask in a high altitude test chamber. I did that once, as part of an intentional training exercise. That would be a quite pleasant way to go. One's awareness that there is anything wrong fades before ones life fades.
I don't see why we can't let the convicted choose their own form of death, from a list of several alternatives, such as hanging, firing squad, shot to the heart or head, beheading, electrocution, lethal injection, heroin overdose or nicotine overdose, or my favorite, the high altitude chamber.
Let them choose, just as they choose their last meal.
We have no need of inflicting vengeance or pain here. The convicts turn has come; they must die as punishment for the crimes for which they stand convicted. Let us impose that sentence, as honorable men, respecting the dignity of each other, even as we do what we must do.
Of course, in the land of the religion of peace, Saudi Arabia, They beat off the head with a dull sword.
barbra ann
Now that’s a thought worth pondering. Not reusable, however, I’m sure we have bundles of this stuff … enough to take care of all those lingering (on our dime) on death row.
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