Gig Harbor AP Language reads Dead Man Walking discussion

As chapter four is the chapter in which Pat is actually put to death, do you think the electric chair is an appropriate way to kill someone?

Remember that you have to answer 2 questions for credit for our lesson in addition to the responses required by Mrs. Gilbert.

First of all, I was so surprised that Pat was actually put to death (did not see that coming). The electric chair is not an appropriate way to kill someone. There is no actual way to "appropriately" kill someone. The electric chair, and other methods of killing someone for the death penalty, is just really messed up. First of all, could you image getting shocked to death? I freak out when I touch my television and it shocks me.

There is no “humane” way to kill someone or something. Death is not humane; in any form what so ever. The electric chair is a gruesome and grotesque way to die, as Prejean described in her book there were cases where the people did in fact survive and were just badly burned. The electric chair is basically just like having a bolt of lightning burn every organ in your body. Have you ever been shocked by electricity? It hurts and it would defiantly not be a “peaceful” way to be put to death.

I don't believe the electric chair is an appropriate way to kill someone. When people support the death penalty, they obviously want to make it seem as just as possible, that way other people will hopefully support it. However, the electric chair sticks out like a sore thumb as cruel and unusual punishment. Like Sister Prejean stated earlier, it could take up to 17 minutes of pain staking electrocution to successfully kill someone. In my mind, this is not an appropriate execution. An appropriate execution must inflict no pain on the executee, and it must be simple. So far the most appropriate execution is the firing squad. As long as the executee is shot in the head, he/she will feel no pain, it's quick, and how much does a bullet cost? Like a dollar? That's the way to kill someone.

I agree with you Grace! I totally didn't see that coming either! But after reading all the facts Prejean introduces in the first chapter, and Dane and Alex mention them above, I don't see the electric chair as an appropriate way to kill anyone. Alex makes a good point when she says their is no "humane" way to kill anyone.It's hard for me to understand why any person, after watching an electrocution, could continue to kill people like that. Where is the compassion? Is it really right to make them suffer that bad?

No, I do not feel that the electic chair is humane at all. Nor do I believe that any form of capital punishment is humane. I believe in the Bible, in which God commands "Thou shalt not kill." Why shouldn't that extend to the justice system? In my opinion, capital punishment is exactly what many criminals on death-row are convicted for: murder.

Furthermore, if you could put a measure on the humaneness of accepted ways of carrying out the death penalty, I would definitely have to say that the electric chair is pretty low on the list. In chapter 1, Sister Prejean discussed the electric chair in depth. I think its pretty obvious the potential physical pain it can inflict on a person. It can take minutes to kill a person, and even then, some people are still left alive. These people are about to be executed! Why should they have to suffer any more before their lives are taken away? Certainly a last act of mercy in a less painful execution would be more acceptable (though I don't believe any way is acceptable, except in extremely rare circumstances).

No, I think the electric chair is not the appropriate way to kill someone. However, I don't think there is an or ever could be an "appropriate" way to kill someone. As Prejean describes in the chapter, Pat and other prisoners put to death before him, burn while in the electric chair. Death is not instantaneous, and once in awhile they survive the electrocution. Clearly, this "painless" form of death is not painless and I believe constitutes as cruel and unusual punishment - an unjustifiable and illegal act according to our Constitution. While I think that putting someone to death in any form can never be humane or appropriate because while one, the actual death can never be proven to be painless and quick, and two the lead up to the death can be prolonged for any amount of time resulting in great psychological and emotional trauma for the criminal. I'm not trying to say in any way that a criminal shouldn't be punished because I do believe there should be a form of retribution, however I think this can be achieved in much more justifiable, effective, and appropriate ways than putting someone to death, especially in the electric chair.

it sounds terrible I know, but as I've said before, I don't think it's a punishment WITHOUT pain. So when people worry that a certain way of killing a murderer hurts or not, your are releasing them from what was probably a terrible life (it almost had to be to end up where they did).

Not everyone is going to be happy because whether for my opinion or against it there will always be room for complaining: not a fast enough death, not a slow enough death, not a painless death, he didn't deserve it, he deserved more. ETC.


I'm thinking most of you are thinking I'm a real jerk right now, but it's hard to explain my opinions better. LOL

Hm... the fact that the government has to look for a "humane" method of killing someone is enough to prove that the death penalty is inhumane. So like Alex said, there is no humane way to kill someone. Who decides these methods of killing people anyway? They should be exterminated. (jk)

Honestly, I do not see there being any appropriate way to put someone to death. Although, the book has discussed some previous methods that have been used, they seem just as awful if not worse. However, if I did have to pick a method it would be the electric chair. It seems to be the most affective and gives the quickest results. Another important thing to consider is that I haven't had anyone put to death by the death penalty before. Without emotions being attached, the most humane way to me may be completely disturbing and immoral to others who have been affected. All in all, I think that the electric chair is the best option when compared to other previous methods.

I know this may sound like the same thing that others have said, but...I don't think there is a humane way of killing anyone either. As I have stated before, I find the death penalty cruel and unusual punishment for many reasons (which I have stated on other posts). But from what Prejean writes about in this book, dying from the electric chair doesn't seem like a good way to go. Besides, from what I remember, the electric chair has no longer been a punishment that has been in use. At least in the state of Washington. We only permit hanging or lethal injection. But it doesn't matter to me, killing is killing. And I think it's wrong.