Decapitation
Nearly instantaneous
Quick it may be, but consciousness is nevertheless believed to continue after the spinal chord is severed. A study in rats in 1991 found that it takes 2.7 seconds for the brain to consume the oxygen from the blood in the head; the equivalent figure for humans has been calculated at 7 seconds. Some macabre historical reports from post-revolutionary France cited movements of the eyes and mouth for 15 to 30 seconds after the blade struck, although these may have been post-mortem twitches and reflexes.
I thought it was going to be about standing mid-stage in front of a 75 piece orchestra and before a packed house, halfway though a magnificent rendition of "Carnival of Venice" when your suspenders break and your pants fall down, revealing the fact that you prefer to 'go commando' at special times such as these.
Moral to the story: Always use belt *and* suspenders....
I studied methods of capital punishment and here are some things to think about:
HANGING--A complicated way to die. Similar to crucifixion. Even though the coroner may pronounce death at a certain time, pain doesn't leave the body for up to an hour afterwards. Not any cleaner than other methods; reflexes can cause all kinds of bodily reactions. Much depends on what was eaten for the last meal. Twinkies don't help.
FIRING SQUAD--Quick, but not always successful. Shots to the head insure a quick death. Shots to the heart are almost as quick. Anywhere else and death may either be delayed or cancelled.
LETHAL GAS--Slow but sure. Takes a lot of real estate in the prison. Lots of pain.
ELECTROCUTION--Builds up a lot of stress prior to execution. This method works much like lethal gas. Death is not as quick as would be expected.
LETHAL INJECTION--Just like lethal gas, except that the toxins enter the bloodstream instead of the lungs.
I am careful not to be political in this thread. One thing that caused my fascination with this was when I read Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood," when I was on a field training exercise in the Army. He wrote, in great detail, about what the two murderers went through in their hanging.
This is one of my favorite books and, whatever you think about him, Truman Capote became one of my heroes. It took a lot of guts to do what he had to do to write that book.
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You only have one chance to make a first impression. Don't blow it.
BBbDave wrote:I really do not care about the appearance of the corps, nor do I particularly care about a bit of pain and suffering(after all, they ARE being killed, aren't they?). I believe every murdered should have their Birth Certificate invalidated in the same manner as their victims. Fair is fair. I don't see how anyone could object to that. In this way, all murderers will be able to preselect their own manner of termination.
However, using an especially grisly method of execution will never work as a deterant, because if a potential murderer thinks about the consequences of their act, that would imply rational thought, and thus, would not commit the murder. Indeed, if a murderer is using thought at all, they have it in their minds that they will, in fact, get away with it, thus, a deterant will not work in that case either. I believe the death penalty, if used at all, should simply be a way of disposing of those who commit heinous crimes and cannot be rehabilitated, and it should be done quickly, cheaply and humanely.
"'An eye for an eye' leaves everybody blind." -Ghandi
bardus est ut bardus probo, Bill Souder
All mushrooms are edible, some are edible only once.
I didn't think I was being overly political, I was just giving my opinion. Did you censure Mr. BBbDave for his 'political' opinion?
Quote:
Massachusetts
You aren't GENERALIZING are you?
- execution within 10 days of the appeal - and PUBLIC
Now really... from the accounts I've read, public executions were seen more as an afternoon's entertainment than a grim warning on the evils of crime. It's not like having public executions eliminated the problem of murder. Perhaps executions could be posted on Youtube, instead. That would show 'em!
If my response was perceived as overly political, I apologize.
I know this is supposed to be a place to 'relax' and enjoy ourselves, not a political newsgroup, but if somebody posts something I take issue with, I will respond.
No hard feelings, guys?
bardus est ut bardus probo, Bill Souder
All mushrooms are edible, some are edible only once.
bloke "Seriously, there ain't much of anything more political than life 'n' death.
What's the saying...? "I don't agree with a damn thing you say, but I will fight to the death for your right to say it."
I do see your point, though. Sometimes it's just fun to poke a hornet's nest with a stick, then run. .
bardus est ut bardus probo, Bill Souder
All mushrooms are edible, some are edible only once.
Bill
Wade
