Actually, a good point, but I'm not sure that military firing squads were always volunteers.

Re: Re: Re: Death by firing squad
 

There is actual pain-- excruciating pain felt by the person being hanged. And depending on the expertise of the person who fashioned the noose (and the length of rope) it can take up to several minutes for a neck to snap. Also, if the condemned is too heavy he can possbily become decapitated. Bad, for him, worse for the spectators.

Hanging is probably one of the least exact forms of capital punishment. That fact, not necessarily the fact that the end result of all forms is death, is what determines whether it is cruel and unusual.

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As for firing squad, I can see how, psychologically, it is easier for the condemened to handle. In lethal injection, gas chamber and elelctric chair, there is much prep time in which the condemned is in the same room as their instrument of death.

For the firing squad, I believe they do not bring in the gunmen until after the condemned is blindfolded.

If I am ever to go that way, I would prefer firing squad...i've never heard of an instance where you had to be shot with a second round...and you know exactly when you will die.

Uh, if I were ever in that position I thinkI would attempt to take some of the guards marching me out with me. Give me a proper honor guard to escort me to hell in style.

This going peacefully to your death seems somehow wrong.

Also, violates that dylan Thomas Poem . . . Do not Go Gently into that Good Night

I agree. In fact, I have often that the jurors that vote for execution should have to perform it.

There is something cowardly about ordering others to kill someone based on your conclusions.

Hmm...what would be the fun of just aiming for the heart? *evil grin*

As I'd mentioned before, it's a hell of a lot less messy than having the firing squad aim for the head. The condemned dies from massive and traumatic injury to the heart or the major blood vessels.

Dude I think she meant the crotch.

Oh.. OK... duh! :D Great way to dispatch sex offenders! :)

Or James' missing appendage!

Nah, a Kappa Sig (and his um, instruments) deserve to go out with more style...

http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmili...ugh/behead.gif

Perhaps something like that?

Much better

Heh..exactly.

See? It'd be much cheaper than counseling and/or jail time.

Seems like a lot of urban legends here. Actually, military firing squads are not composed of volunteers. The firing party is detailed on orders to perform the duty and a commissioned officer is detailed to command the execution. There is no exact number to make up a firing party but the manual recommends between eight and twelve although more were not uncommon. Contrary to myth there are no blanks in any of the rifles. Usually an aiming card is pinned to the chest over the heart, but this is not always done. Despite an earlier comment, there is a very great difference in the recoil of a live round as opposed to the recoil (or almost total lack thereof) of a blank cartridge so it would be immediately apparent whether one fired a live or a blank round. The officer commanding the execution gives the order to fire and then draws his pistol to administer the 'coup de grace' which is a round through the head to make certain that the job is done and the poor bastard on the receiving end is not still alive and hurting. (Some versions of the manual give the officer discretion as to whether the coup is necessary and some require it). On rare occasions, if the person to be shot is a commissioned officer who has not been stripped of his rank, he may be allowed to command his own firing party. This is an old fashioned way to allow him to die with honor. A blindfold is offered and often refused. The last cigarette often seen in old movies is not covered in regulations and presumably offered at the discretion of the officer commanding when he offers the blindfold. All of this is spelled out in Service Regulations. There are minor variations among the Services and what I have related is from the 1917 edition of the Army's General Regulations for field and garrison service.
I believe the last military execution by firing party was in the middle 1940's so this would be a moot point except for the civil jurisdictions (two, I think) which allow this.
Personally, I'm not a big fan of capital punishment but considering the lesser of several evils I think I would choose firing party. There is some dignity in the ceremony and the impact of several large calibre rounds would knock out the receiver instantly so that even if a coup de grace were required it would be painless. The actual impact would be momentary.
I think the 'chair' is barbaric, hanging shameful, gas definitely cruel and unusual, and lethal injection so clinical that it robs one of any last shred of dignity. The firing squad allows a man to stand up and look death in the eye and face it with courage and dignity. Anyway, thats how I see it.
dekeguy
Capt, USAR
Forward Deployed