If you are one of those people that believe there is a humane way
to kill someone, you are insane. How can you even associate the
word "Humane" with killing someone. Even if it's by lethal
injection, the guillotine or electrocution; that still doesn’t
make it humane.
Its been said that lethal injection is more humane than any
other method of execution. Why? Because the family gets to have
an open casket funeral? If you think that makes the family feel
any better, once again you are insane!
As for the drugs that are used:
Anesthetic-Sodium Pentothal. It puts the condemned in a
supposedly deep sleep. I'm sure it could. When used for surgical
operations patients are given a dose of 100 to 150 milligrams
over a period of 10 to 15 seconds. For executions, as many as 5
grams (5,000 mg) are used. After this does the condemned is not
suppose to feel anything. So why has there been reports of the
condemned crying?
Paralyzing agent- Pancuronium bromide. This drug stops the
breathing by paralyzing the diaphragm and lungs. This drug is
given in doses of up to 100 milligrams; much more than what's
used in surgical operations.
Potassium chloride. This drug is given to interrupt the
electrical signaling essential to heart function and also causes
cardiac arrest. After this drug is given the condemned dies
anywhere from five to eighteen minutes after the execution order
is given.
How could this in anyway be humane when the condemned is
overdosed with 3 different drugs?
In numerous documented cases, witnesses have observed such
horrific visages as the condemned strapped to the gurney writhing
in pain. Twisting his head from side to side, gasping for air,
and attempting to speak. A suffering lingering death due to
ill-maintained equipment, poorly trained technicians, and such
easily avoidable problems as kinked or clogged lines causing an
interruption of flow of these "efficient and effective" killing
poisons.
As gruesome as the guillotine may seem; It never suffered human
error where all other forms of execution have proven themselves
more vulnerable. Besides, how can it be considered even remotely
humane to render a man helpless by strapping him to a gurney and
ending his life (regardless of the method of execution) after
years of preparation and planning, even going so far as to gather
an audience! Any crime even approaching this level of complicity
would rightfully be considered a truly callous and barbaric act.
The dictionary definition for humane is: Tender; compassionate.
Now where do you get killing someone out of tender or
compassionate? Its insane!
Taurus Carroll
written 2002
Something to think about
Words from death row......
For a full list of articles written by Juveniles on Alabama's Death Row, go to the complete list of titles at
Stories.
