Execution in the USA
May. 23rd, 2003 11:10 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ceebeegeeFascinating.
I didn't realize this was still legal. Interesting that they include the "conscience round"--the blank round which they insert in one person's rifle so that each gunman can tell himself he was the one who didn't actually help kill the condemned guy. From what I understand the recoil is different with a blank and any experienced rifleman would know immediately, so it's kind of pointless. But an interesting remnant from the past nonetheless. I'm not sure how this qualifies as "cruel and unusual punishment" though, any more than electrocution.
Per this site, I verified that not only Washington State but Delaware still allows hanging as a method of execution. Hanging! In Delaware! Washington, that wild Western state, home of serial serial murderers, doesn't surprise me so much but Delaware...Now that's cruel and unusual--if your neck doesn't snap right away, you slowly strangle to death as Lewis Powell/Payne/Paine (one of the Lincoln conspirators) did.
I didn't realize this was still legal. Interesting that they include the "conscience round"--the blank round which they insert in one person's rifle so that each gunman can tell himself he was the one who didn't actually help kill the condemned guy. From what I understand the recoil is different with a blank and any experienced rifleman would know immediately, so it's kind of pointless. But an interesting remnant from the past nonetheless. I'm not sure how this qualifies as "cruel and unusual punishment" though, any more than electrocution.
Per this site, I verified that not only Washington State but Delaware still allows hanging as a method of execution. Hanging! In Delaware! Washington, that wild Western state, home of serial serial murderers, doesn't surprise me so much but Delaware...Now that's cruel and unusual--if your neck doesn't snap right away, you slowly strangle to death as Lewis Powell/Payne/Paine (one of the Lincoln conspirators) did.
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More execution funzies
Date: 2003-05-23 01:21 pm (UTC)Fascinating documentary about a guy who designs execution equipment, directed by the amazing Errol Morris.