Capital Punishment: The Code Of Hammurabi
“Everybody believes that capital punishment is wrong, but when they look at certain cases, they are quick to say, “Put them to death”, or “scream capital punishment.”” Jeff Lindsay. Capital punishment is the legally authorized killing of someone as a punishment for a crime. It has been around since time itself. In the 1700’s, The Code of Hammurabi was the first known written document there were twenty-five crimes that were punishable by death such as adultery, and helping slaves escape. Only the most heinous of those warranted such a stringent sentence. And while there are many methods that may take a prisoner's life, there are also alternatives. One must ask though, “Do those options do justice to the unspeakable acts these criminals have
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During the execution the inmate is restrained in a chair that is equipped with a metal container beneath the seat. Cyanide pellets are put in this container, which is then filled with a sulfuric acid solution. There are three executioners; each turns a key that activates an electric switch. This allows the cyanide to fall into the solution, thus producing a lethal gas. Unconsciousness can occur in a few seconds, if the inmate takes a deep breath. If a prisoner fights the gas, death may be delayed forcing the prisoner to experience wild convulsions. Death is estimated six to eight minutes. The warden is watching a heart monitor in the control room and will pronounce death. After death is pronounced ammonia is pumped into the chamber to neutralize the gas. Exhaust fans remove the fumes from the chamber into two scrubbers that contain water used as a neutralizing agent. The neutralizing takes about thirty minutes (“Methods of …show more content…
Capital punishment has been around for thousands of years and to this day we still use some of the forms. It has been heavily reformed so that is a quick, humane, and effective way of execution. A person has to do a horrendous crime such as murder, or kidnapping where the victim dies for the death penalty to be an option when other alternatives such as life in prison with or without the possibility of parole are not sufficient. Even though many do not agree there are a numerous amount of people that do not agree with capital punishment and it may continue to change, it is a necessity for this
During the execution the inmate is restrained in a chair that is equipped with a metal container beneath the seat. Cyanide pellets are put in this container, which is then filled with a sulfuric acid solution. There are three executioners; each turns a key that activates an electric switch. This allows the cyanide to fall into the solution, thus producing a lethal gas. Unconsciousness can occur in a few seconds, if the inmate takes a deep breath. If a prisoner fights the gas, death may be delayed forcing the prisoner to experience wild convulsions. Death is estimated six to eight minutes. The warden is watching a heart monitor in the control room and will pronounce death. After death is pronounced ammonia is pumped into the chamber to neutralize the gas. Exhaust fans remove the fumes from the chamber into two scrubbers that contain water used as a neutralizing agent. The neutralizing takes about thirty minutes (“Methods of …show more content…
Capital punishment has been around for thousands of years and to this day we still use some of the forms. It has been heavily reformed so that is a quick, humane, and effective way of execution. A person has to do a horrendous crime such as murder, or kidnapping where the victim dies for the death penalty to be an option when other alternatives such as life in prison with or without the possibility of parole are not sufficient. Even though many do not agree there are a numerous amount of people that do not agree with capital punishment and it may continue to change, it is a necessity for this