What is the most humane way to execute people convicted of capital crimes?

2015-09-30T11:42:17-04:00

This week roughly 7 people were scheduled to be executed for capital crimes in various states. There has been concern about the administration of and the actions of lethal drug injection on those scheduled to die.
It has been five years since the last firing squad execution in Utah. Ronnie Lee Gardner was executed June 18, 2010.
The last hanging was for Billy Bailey who was executed by the state of Delaware on January 25, 1996
The last use of the electric chair was on January 16, 2013, when Robert Gleason, Jr. decided to go to the electric chair in Virginia.
Humane applied to both those executed and especially to the victims family.
What is the most humane way to execute those convicted of capital crimes?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2015 11:44 AM

2015-09-30T11:44:14-04:00

By the same method they killed their victim.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Sep 30 at 2015 11:51 AM

2015-09-30T11:51:26-04:00

I think that hanging by a professional hangman which merely requires sufficient weight distribution, gravity, and good knot-tying skills to be effective is the most humane method of execution.
I think hanging by a professional hangman or electrocution by electric chair have greater potential for quick death of the perpetrator and closure for the victims families. The electric chair requires sufficient power to function properly which I consider a drawback.
Based on the fact that some people have had problems while being executed with lethal injections and there is a potential for somebody being executed by firing squad to survive - granted it is remote - those two methods seem the least humane for the one being executed and the victims families.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Sep 30 at 2015 12:23 PM

2015-09-30T12:23:15-04:00

The guillotine would be the mist effective and humane way of capital punishment. Can you imagine the video's of that? Talk about a case to use to end the practice.

Response by SN Alex Tufail made Sep 30 at 2015 12:50 PM

2015-09-30T12:50:44-04:00

The most humane form of execution is who cares...If someone has been charged and sentenced to death, then dying humanly should not be an issue. This not to say they should be tortured to death, but humane shouldn't be a concern. The best form of execution is whatever is cheapest, and can be done in the masses so that those on death row don't wait forever. I don't think it should be a state choice, but rather a decision made by the Federal Government.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2015 1:18 PM

2015-09-30T13:18:54-04:00

I think a criminal should be executed by the same method they used to wind up on death row. But, since that won't happen, I'm a fan of hanging, as it costs the tax payer the least to perform.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2015 8:30 PM

2015-09-30T20:30:51-04:00

I have to agree with some of the comments, the same way they took someone's life

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Sep 30 at 2015 9:28 PM

2015-09-30T21:28:00-04:00

LTC Stephen F. A firing squad seems most humane to me.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2015 9:38 PM

2015-09-30T21:38:54-04:00

LTC Stephen F. Every method for execution has it's drawbacks. There isn't a humane way, so I say if you have to do it make it the quickest way.

Response by PO2 Peter Klein made Sep 30 at 2015 10:38 PM

2015-09-30T22:38:57-04:00

I do not understand the concern for those who have so gravely harmed others with how the killers are executed. There should be more concern for the homeless, the hungry and the poor.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Oct 1 at 2015 5:53 PM

2015-10-01T17:53:06-04:00

LTC Stephen F. I would have to go with the Lethal Injection - don't know any of the facts about which is really the human versus the inhuman, but I'm guessing that is it. Personally, I think the type of capital punishment should be based on the crime. If the crime was very heinous then the punishment should be the same. I think the criminal should have to suffer like their victims did and don't think there should be this appeal process after appeal process and this extended period of time on death row. If convicted they should get one opportunity to appeal, it's heard (accepted or denied) and then they are executed. Period! Just my opinion!

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2015 11:18 PM

2015-10-01T23:18:42-04:00

I don't know if there is a humane way to execute someone. That said, hanging seems to be pretty quick. And you can reuse the rope.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Sep 11 at 2016 2:36 AM

2016-09-11T02:36:17-04:00

Seems to Me there is too much concern for the Criminal, what about their Victims ? They didn't have any choices, their lives often are over unless they survived and the impact last a lifetime.