On Executions

[DanaC]

I wasn't sure where to put this, but figured Politics as best bet.

Most of you know I'm against capital punishment, in any form. We no longer have the death penalty in the UK. But when we did - this is how we did it:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...?commentpage=1

One thing that strikes me about the process of execution in 1960s Britain is the speed at which it was carried out - and the way the guards and executioners did everything they could to minimise the stress of the condemned. Now - I daresay that the rationale behind this was less some great weight of humanity and sentiment, and more a practical approach to not having to deal with panicked prisoners in the midst of a fight or flight response. But the end result was something relatively humane.

I wouldn't want capital punishment brought back in this country, but if it was, I would rather it happen like this than the slow drawn out process of strapping the prisoner to the gurney (or chair) raising them up for the witnesses to see, allowing time for last words, and the several minutes of the process before death is inflicted.

From leaving the cell to dropping through the doors, 14 seconds have passed.

It's an interesting read. Chilling in places. Fascinating stuff though.