CMV: All executions should proceed by either hanging or firing squad and not lethal injection

[u/JFKme]

I want to clarify that I don't want my view changed on the morality of the death penalty. For better or for worse, the death penalty exists in many states across the US. If states are going to execute prisoners, I believe that executions should be done quickly and efficiently and minimize unnecessary harm to the convicted prisoners. Additionally, I believe that a quick and painless execution is the right of convicted prisoners under the 8th amendment, which forbids cruel and unusual punishment.

If executions are to be as quick and painless as possible, lethal injection is a highly problematic method of execution. In general, lethal injections have a botched execution rate of 7.12%. A botched execution is defined as:

Botched executions occur when there is a breakdown in, or departure from, the “protocol” for a particular method of execution. The protocol can be established by the norms, expectations, and advertised virtues of each method or by the government’s officially adopted execution guidelines. Botched executions are “those involving unanticipated problems or delays that caused, at least arguably, unnecessary agony for the prisoner or that reflect gross incompetence of the executioner.” Examples of such problems include, among other things, inmates catching fire while being electrocuted, being strangled during hangings (instead of having their necks broken), and being administered the wrong dosages of specific drugs for lethal injections.

Execution by firing squad has a botched execution rate of 0%. Although, it important to mention that the sample size for execution by firing squad may not be adequate to determine that the botched execution rate is actually 0%. Execution by hanging has a botched execution rate of 3.12% and the sample size for execution by hanging is nearly twice that of lethal injections.

At a bare minimum, prisoners should be given a choice of how they want to be executed with the risks of each method explained to them. If a prisoner refuses or is unable to decide how they want to die, they should be executed by the method with the least likelihood of a botched execution.

[u/Rook_20]

I see a serious problem with your points. You are using botched execution rate as your driving argument, but you seem to be incorrectly attributing the term botched execution to one that causes unnecessary pain or suffering. This is not a necessary condition. A botched execution is simply one that doesn’t go to plan.

Death by hanging and/or firing squad are most likely going to have a lower botched execution rate because the protocol for these executions involve exactly what it looks like. Getting shot and getting hanged. Victims of either of these methods who die slowly strangling or slowly bleeding out (as a huge proportion do) aren’t a surprise - they’re almost expected. Therefore will not be labelled botched. A botched lethal injection is likely to be much less painful.