Capital Punishment :: essays research papers fc

There has been a total of 374 executions within the United States between 1976 through 1999. The methods of the executions have been electrocutions, lethal injections, gas chambers, firing squads and hangings. Electrocution: An alternating current of about 2000 volts of electricity passes through the body. The criminal is strapped into a specially constructed electric chair. One electrode is applied to the scalp, the other to the calf of one leg. The electrodes are moistened with a salt solution to ensure adequate contact. Death usually occurs within two minutes after the current has started to flow through the body. Lethal Injection A small tube is inserted in the prisoners vein to ensure easy access when its time to inject the poison. The poison is very lethal and death occurs quickly. Gas Chamber The person is sealed in an enclosure where poison pellets of gas are released. The poison pollutes the airways and stops all breathing. The gas pellets strangle the prisoner, taking his or her breath away until the veins under the skin burst. Firing Squad Receiving multiple bullets throughout the body while being shot by a firing line. Death usually occurs from a loss of blood unless shot in the heart. Hanging: Suspending the condemned person by the neck, usually with a noosed rope or cord from a frame with a crosspiece commonly known as a gallow. Death through hanging results from compression of the windpipe, obstruction of blood flow and rupture of nerve structures in the neck. The spinal cord is damaged or severed through the fracture or dislocation of the first three cervical vertebrae. (Andrews, Interquest) Take a minute and think of why most countries don’t use some of the old methods to carry out the death sentence such as: Crucifixion, boiling in oil, beheading, burning alive, crushing, stoning, or drowning. The United States is still using an uncivilized practice that has been rejected by most countries hundreds of years ago. The eighth amendment of the Constitution states against the infliction of cruel and unusual punishment. This is definitely against the Constitution that the United States hold so dearly is just one reason why the death penalty is wrong. (Morgon, p. 52-54) From a religious point of view, many of us were taught that it was wrong to kill per the Ten Commandment’s in the command, â€Å"THY SHALL NOT KILL†. This epitomizes the Divine Command Theory because this was commanded by God and therefore is good.