3 ms·

It really doesn't matter to the person being executed. I think changing it is more about the sensibilities of the observers.

• afavour 5y ago
  I think it does matter to the person being executed. There are numerous stories of lethal injections going wrong, of those being executed writhing around in extreme pain. If I were on death row I think I’d very strongly prefer a firing squad. If I were the person performing the execution… perhaps not. But I think you’re right that these changes aren’t being brought about for the benefit for the executed. It’s embarrassing for those executing when one goes wrong and states have had to resort to more and more obscure cocktails of drugs as companies refuse to sell when they know their product is being used to kill. By comparison a firing squad has a very simple supply chain.
  • kingsuper20 5y ago
    Plus there's a certain panache to a firing squad. By that I mean it's more dignified. There's something really creepy about injections and electrocutions, it's like they're a perversion of medicine.
    • starkd 5y ago
      The firing squad forces society to face consequences for what it is doing. Capitol punishment is a way for society to say there's certain things we will not countenance, will not accept, will not try to explain except to reject it utterly. For especially gruesome crimes. But a firing squad deters its use whenever compassion is felt for the truly repentant.