Capital Punishment :: essays research papers fc

There has been a total of 374 executions within the join States between 1976 through 1999. The methods of the executions have been electrocutions, lethal injections, gas chambers, firing squads and hangings. ElectrocutionAn alternating current of about 2000 volts of voltaicity 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 InjectionA small tube is inserted in the prisoners vein to ensure easy gateway when its time to inject the poison. The poison is very lethal and death occurs quickly.Gas ChamberThe 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 SquadReceiving 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 break up through the fracture or dislocation of the first three cervical vertebrae. (Andrews, Interquest)Take a minute and think of why most countries dont 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 quieten using an uncivilized practice that has been rejected by most countries hundreds of years ago. The eighth amendment of the Const itution 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 violate. (Morgon, p. 52-54)From a religious point of view, many of us were taught that it was wrong to kill per the Ten Commandments in the command, THY SHALL NOT KILL. This epitomizes the Divine Command Theory because this was commanded by God and therefore is good.