Arguments Against Lethal Injection

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Three percent of executions by lethal injection in the United States are botched. Most prisons carry out the process carelessly, leaving the inmate conscious. During this period they are enduring a lot of pain. By the time its recognized that they are awake its too late, and usually they die of a heart attack in the death chamber. Introduced in 1978, lethal injection was supposed to be a better alternative to hanging, the gas chamber, firing squad and electrocution - a clean, clinical, painless, more humane and therefore more acceptable form of capital punishment(Herald 1). It is used in 37 of the 38 death penalty states. Only Nebraska still prefers the electric chair. Lethal injection goes against the Bible in many ways. In Exodus 21:23, “But if there is …show more content…
Under the allegations that it amount to a cruel and unusual punishment. Some of which is forbidden under the eighth amendment. For example, “Some executions have lasted between twenty minutes to over an hour, and prisoners have been seen gasping for air, grimacing, and convulsing during executions” ( Weil 1). Lethal injection was first designed to prevent the pain associated with the other forms of executions. From evidence it seems as if it may be causing just as much pain as the electric chair. For example, “Autopsies have shown severe, foot long chemical burns to the skin and needles have been found in soft tissue” (Weil 1). Even though the inmates was convicted of horrific crimes, they should not have to be put through that much pain. They deaths are supposed to be smooth and painless like it was told to them, but in the end it’s the total opposite. For example, “ The April execution of Oklahoma’s Clayton Lockett, who regained consciousness during the procedure and appeared to writhe in pain before expiring after forty three minutes ” (Weil 1). The method is supposed to be a minimum of ten minutes, but having so many complications delays
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