Why do they use lethal injection in the USA?

Death by firing squad has always been the quickest, cheapest and most humane way of doing it.

I just read life in prison can cost $75,000
Lethal injection can cost like $2M

A 9mm bullet from walmart is less than a dollar and they die instantly with out complications.

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ArishMell · 70-79, M

Oh, so the cost of killing someone is the primary consideration?

Anyway, don't people sentenced to death in the USA, spend very long times in prison while appeal-on-appeal goes back and forth?

MethDozer · M

@ArishMell Yes, that's the really expense to the death penalty.

GuyWithOpinions · 31-35, M

@ArishMell well no, its not the focal point, but out of curiousiry, why is lethal injection so expensive when throught history there has always been cheaper, more effwctive measures?

I guess with injections theres no real clean up compared to firing squad or beheading, etc. But $2M compared to like $0.89 bullet is a big leap. And there have been stories where people have survives in agony for hours with things like lethal injection and electric chair.

MethDozer · M

@GuyWithOpinions it cost that much no matter the method used. It's the court proceedings, appeals, and legal procedures that cost a fortune in death sentences. Not the actual execution

GuyWithOpinions · 31-35, M

@MethDozer oh i see.

ArishMell · 70-79, M

@GuyWithOpinions It does seem grimly odd.

I heard some time last year that the lethal injection drug was in short supply because it was no longer being made....

GuyWithOpinions · 31-35, M

@ArishMell hmmm.. thats interesting.

Punches · 46-50, F

@ArishMell

Anyway, don't people sentenced to death in the USA, spend very long times in prison while appeal-on-appeal goes back and forth?

I imagine some if them die of old age before they are ex3cuted.

One recent case, I forget where I read this, but it took over 30 years.

ninalanyon · 61-69, T

@ArishMell Pharmaceutical companies refuse to supply it because they do not want to be associated with executions. It's just their public image that they are concerned about.

I could never understand why the US makes executions such a complicated business; a firing squad or hanging are simpler, cheaper, quicker, and more humane. Albert Pierrepoint never had a failed hanging as far as I can tell and executed at least four hundred people. I have his autobiography somewhere I think.