Capital punishment is legal; mercy killing is illegal? FAIL.

[flamingsword]

I don't believe that capital punishment is correctly named. Punishment implies that a lesson is being learned, but . . . death. Kinda final. Not so much with the correction of behavior. So when our system is forced to admit that it cannot fix someone, that what they have become is beyond our power to deal with, we should not try to make their death a horrible thing because of our failure in this lose/lose scenario.

That being said, the way we do things currently is barbaric and inexact. Lethal injection is slow, painful, horrible to watch, haphazard to accomplish, and reviled by physicians so strongly that many competent and compassionate professionals resign rather than be involved.

New plan for death row: asphxia by nitrous oxide overdose. Painless, fast, efficient, effective. The victim's families don't get any kind of grisly thrill from watching someone drift blissfully to unconsciousness and then death. And the tone reminds everyone that this, too, is a mercy killing. And that our failure as a people to practice rehabilitation and resocialization is also to blame.

And while we're at it, let's legalize assisted suicide. Let's prioritize preserving the quality of life over preserving the length of it.

Comments

[tanniynim.livejournal.com]

Nitrous oxide has always been one of my favorite options, but I like Carbon Monoxide better. Does the same thing except they don't get to enjoy it as much.

So...

[bardkris.livejournal.com]

Death-row gladiator battles with giant robots out?

[gonner221.livejournal.com]

I have to admit I still think that hanging or the guillotine is the way to go. Done correctly, death is instintanious with both methods.