Upcoming execution in Alabama

Said it before; capital punishment is a general waste of taxpayer money as it is almost universally more expensive than life in prison without parole. The appeals process, mandatory in most jurisdictions, is expensive and time-consuming. If I had my way life at hard labor would still be an option. And life sentences have the advantage of being reversible if the conviction proves to be in error.

There is a plethora of evidence that the threat of capital punishment does not serve as a sufficient deterrent for capital criminal activity.

Protection from "Cruel & Unusual Punishment" is guaranteed by the 8th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. As with most "rules" the interpretation proves to be the interesting part.

Bryan
 
Some time back on another board, some thoughtful person put the US Army manual for execution by hanging online. It went into great detail on the mechanics, drawings on the scaffold and, being any governmental entity, turned it into a circus. There were orders on formations and the presence of a band. A tad macabre, but interesting reading. revealed some faults in folklore about hanging.

No idea when that one was dated but PAM 27-4, done in 1944, revised 2006 is available online. One wonders just how old the parent document is when looking at PAM 27-4 as it incluces "Execution by Musketry".
 
TXBryan said:
Said it before; capital punishment is a general waste of taxpayer money as it is almost universally more expensive than life in prison without parole. The appeals process, mandatory in most jurisdictions, is expensive and time-consuming. If I had my way life at hard labor would still be an option. And life sentences have the advantage of being reversible if the conviction proves to be in error.

There is a plethora of evidence that the threat of capital punishment does not serve as a sufficient deterrent for capital criminal activity.

Protection from "Cruel & Unusual Punishment" is guaranteed by the 8th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. As with most "rules" the interpretation proves to be the interesting part.

Bryan
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I don't think any sentence is a deterrent. Bad people are going to do bad things regardless of consequences. How bout we for once just look at it as PUNISHMENT!!! Some people (monsters) are simply not fit to walk among us. I cringe when I hear people talking about reforming an inmate. Just punish them!
 
I always thought that the "Cruel and unusual punishment" thing was intended to prohibit medieval torture and execution practices such as stretching on the rack, drawing and quartering, pouring molten lead down your throat, roasting in the hollow iron bull, intentional starvation, burning at the stake, etc. Now it has been perverted to include any kind of life-taking method, no matter how humane. So what is kindly and usual punishment?
 
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Our local George Soros beneficiary DA believes that any and all forms of punishment including imprisonment are cruel and unusual, unless it involves prosecution of cops for performing their duty.
 
DWalt said:
I always thought that the "Cruel and unusual punishment" thing was intended to prohibit medieval torture and execution practices such as stretching on the rack, drawing and quartering, pouring molten lead down your throat, roasting in the hollow iron bull, intentional starvation, burning at the stake, etc. Now it has been perverted to include any kind of life-taking method, no matter how humane. So what is kindly and usual punishment?
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A neverending session of the Keeping Up With The Kardashians. With neverending servings of broccoli.
 
Yaworski said:
The old "no deterrent" argument. It's not a deterrent, it is punishment and an assurance that he will not do it again.
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Self-execution might be the answer. Put the prisoner in a cell along with all the drugs and paraphernalia of whatever kind he prefers and let him have at it until he ODs. Death by Coke.
 
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Bald1 said:
I don't think any sentence is a deterrent. Bad people are going to do bad things regardless of consequences. How bout we for once just look at it as PUNISHMENT!!! Some people (monsters) are simply not fit to walk among us. I cringe when I hear people talking about reforming an inmate. Just punish them!
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Many inmates can be reformed, but others are incorrigible. The problem is that too many politicians, medical professionals, and legal types cannot get their heads around the latter condition. To them, there must be a fix other than whole life imprisonment or the death penalty. They find it impossible to grasp that even with all the opportunities and safety nets baked into Western society that some people are just plain bad and will keep on being bad.
 
I prefer to see them use the cheapest way possible. The train station comes to mind.
 
Latest news says the Alabama N2 execution will take place tonight between midnight and 6 AM. So it is still on. Nitrogen is fairly cheap and certainly widely available. One tank would probably be enough for years of executions. One problem with lethal injection is getting the drugs. Manufacturers would not sell them to states. That is not a problem with N2. Anyone can buy it in any quantity without restrictions.
 
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IAM Rand said:
Bring back the firing squad. Quick, cheap, and fast. 10 Garands and 1 with a blank.
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Cannot agree with that. Ammo is too precious as to waste even one round on a criminal, much less nine if those gems.
 
Bald1 said:
I don't think any sentence is a deterrent. Bad people are going to do bad things regardless of consequences. How bout we for once just look at it as PUNISHMENT!!! Some people (monsters) are simply not fit to walk among us. I cringe when I hear people talking about reforming an inmate. Just punish them!
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What is it about life in prison without parole that doesn't sound like punishment? I did not discuss reform. And, life in prison without parole would tend to indicate the "monsters" will not be walking among us.

I respect your views but please don't distort mine.

Bryan
 
I think the official Saudi public execution method has changed somewhat from beheading to a single bullet to the head. I once had the opportunity to witness a Saudi public execution but after a little reflection I decided it wasn't something I wanted in my memory bank.
 
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Yaworski said:
The old "no deterrent" argument. It's not a deterrent, it is punishment and an assurance that he will not do it again.
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Again, do you believe life in prison without parole does not constitute punishment? I did not "argue" for deterrence so please do not misstate my opinion to support yours. I simply stated fact.

I would prefer consequences to bad behavior serve as a deterrence rather than simply as punishment. Two halves, and the whole is better than either half, as I'd prefer people not commit acts deserving of severe punishment in the first place. There, now I've argued for deterrence.

My apologies for the thread drift.

Bryan
 
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DWalt said:
Anyone ever see the Stacy Keach movie "The Traveling Executioner"? Apparently based at least partly on fact about an executioner who traveled around several southern states in the early 20th Century doing executions using a truck-mounted electric chair and generator.

There is a fascinating biography about Albert Pierrepoint, the famous British executioner of the early-mid 20th Century, before the British abolished capital punishment. He was one of a very few official British executioners, and probably the busiest. I do not remember the title, but after you start reading it, I guarantee you will not be able to put it down. When he was not out doing hangings (lots of those), he ran a London pub. His father and uncle had also been official British executioners and he apprenticed under
them.
------------------------
This is the book: Amazon.com
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When I was a Grad student at the University of London's Queen Mary College, I would occasionally go over to his pub for a drink. Quite laid back for his part-time job. He also had another PT job as a "Hangman" when he was brought over to Germany in 1946 to complete the execution of a number of Nazi war criminals after the "self-taught" US Army hangman was "removed" due to incompetence. Dave_n
 
TXBryan said:
What is it about life in prison without parole that doesn't sound like punishment? I did not discuss reform. And, life in prison without parole would tend to indicate the "monsters" will not be walking among us.

I respect your views but please don't distort mine.

Bryan
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It Life Without Parole meant what is says, the sentence might, just might, be a reasonable consideration. BUT we all know that's not always the case. Then there's the expense of upkeep and the waste of floor space housing it. Let the victim or victim's family have last word.
 
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Dave_n said:
When I was a Grad student at the University of London's Queen Mary College, I would occasionally go over to his pub for a drink. Quite laid back for his part-time job. He also had another PT job as a "Hangman" when he was brought over to Germany in 1946 to complete the execution of a number of Nazi war criminals after the "self-taught" US Army hangman was "removed" due to incompetence. Dave_n
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The Army hangman was a Sergeant Woods. His specialty was a short drop hanging, resulting in strangulation deaths of his victims. Later when assigned to another posting with an engineering detachment he was accidentally electrocuted. I thought that was poetic justice.
 
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TXBryan said:
Again, do you believe life in prison without parole does not constitute punishment?
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It does...And so does execution...Of the two, execution is a more effective deterrent against further commission of crime...

Those incarcerated in prison can and do engage in criminal activity, even within the walls...Those resting comfortably under the prison yard dirt have no further interest in crime...

Yes, I know there are many aspects of crime and punishment that can be, and are discussed ad infinitum...My point has been made, and I leave further words to others...:cool:...Ben
 
TXBryan said:
Said it before; capital punishment is a general waste of taxpayer money as it is almost universally more expensive than life in prison without parole. And life sentences have the advantage of being reversible if the conviction proves to be in error.

There is a plethora of evidence that the threat of capital punishment does not serve as a sufficient deterrent for capital criminal activity.
As with most "rules" the interpretation proves to be the interesting part. Bryan
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Just cherry picking parts of your statement that seem relevant. If someone is proved without doubt or pleads to the crime there is no reason to "reverse" the conviction. There is no deterrent for capital crime...but there is a deterrent from it happening again by the same person...Murder by criminals happens in prisons frequently...there is no deterrent for those that get life. Life at hard labor will never happen either...because even with that,rules as you pointed out are interpreted by those with "kind hearts" may one day make that cruel. I'm not an attorney...never played one on TV. But I have been on murder scenes etc. Was on a jury in a capital murder case and even went into the State prison on medical calls for stabbings etc. There IS no deterrent as soon as you make something as cruel and unusual. Some states had prisoners grow their own food....but there are people who think it is cruel to have people "work" for their living. We have these peope murdering in schools etc..They are guilty...they were caught in the act.. In my opinion they desrve at least what they have dished out...no year in prison...Trial and all appeals finished in 90 daysthen kill them in any way fashionable rope chair gas firing squad...but they deserve something at least as violent as they performed
 
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