What is the quickest form of execution?

Answer 1

Beheaded via a guillotine

Note: there were tests done where the severed head was picked up and could answer questions by blinking their eyes (right for yes - left for no). The 'head' could do this for over a minute. That is why it was customary to pick the head up so the person could see their own headless body -

Answer 2

Now are we talking about existing methods, and just choosing between them? Or can we think up new ways.

You see the problem is the brain, it can carry on living for a few minutes after blood supply has been removed. So what do we have in our arsenal?

Hanging - breaks the neck (crushes wind pipe in old days before the drop) Therefore cause of death is removal of nerve impulses to heart, heart stops beating, not oxygenated blood to brain.

Beheading - once again blood supply removed from brain by separating from body.

Lethal injection - stops heart, brain once again loses blood supply.

All the above result in a death taking many minutes before the brain eventually shuts down. However, electrocution differs

Electrocution - ionisation of the blood coupled with the cooking of the body from the inside. So while electrocution appears to be the slowest and certainly the most painful. I think that for the person undergoing execution, it is the quickest way to shake off this mortal coil.

However, if I was to come up with a new method. I would go for being crushed by a 100 ton block of stone, to have the whole body flattened instantaneously does not permit the brain to carry on living without the body.

Answer 3

The official British view was that long drop hanging was the preferred method when we had capital punishment, and remains the choice of a number of countries who still practice it. Examples include Malaysia, The Phillipines and Iraq. Death is said to be instantaneous by the breaking of the neck and severing of the spinal cord, the most recent high profile execution by this method being that of Saddam Hussein.

Iran uses winch hanging (where the condemned is hoisted up slowly by a crane and left to strangle) and stoning, both of which cause a slow and painful death.

Arguments rage in the USA about execution. The electric chair is said to be instantaneous, but no-one knows at what point you die when being fried to death in your own boidily fluids. Executed by lethal cyanide gas in May 1987, Edward Earl Jones was unconcious in about a minute (a long time when you're gapsing for breath in poisonous gas) and his heart stopped eight minutes after the gas was applied. Shooting (available in the state of Utah) seems to be quick, as evidenced by Gary Glimore's execution in 1977, and is widely used in China today, where thousands are executed every year. Lethal injection, which is the preferred method of almost all US states, and lately in China, is seen as painless and the least gruesome, although it does seem a lengthy process.

Beheading by sword is used in Gulf states. I have seen documentation that suggests that a severed head can seem alive for several seconds after the blade strikes.

If I were to choose a method for my own exectuion I think I would choose to be shot in the head, like most condemned prisoners suffer in China.

Answer 4

From what is considered legal or illegal. Legally, 1 state still has the firing squad, 1 state still has hanging. Breaking the neck, and or a bullet are both quick. As for non-practiced execution in this country, would have to be be-heading.

Answer 5

Only God can do that form of execution: Lightning strike!

Humans, can only put a criminal, cleared for death penalty, to an electric chair for legal execution, if the court order specifies or allows this form of execution! Often, method of execution, is also part of the concerned court order e.g., "hang" to death!" or "to be shot by a firing squad!" or to be put to the guillotine!" et al.

Answer 6

Beheading. Over in an instant. Even with gunshot to the head there is evidence you might experience some minutes of discomfort while everything shuts down. Only by completely severing the spinal chord like that can you be assured of very rapid instant death.

Answer 7

Beheading--- guillotine (absolute fastest)

Firing Squads aim for the chest

Hanging can go wrong

Lethal Injection can go wrong--- least painful

Electric chair can take 2 or 3 charges to stop the heart

Answer 8

I would think any kind of beheading, as long as it came off with the first blow.

In the middle ages when it was done with an axe, the head wouldn't always come off the first time and may have to be done a few times to be successful, Ouch!!!

Answer 9

If the blade replaced into stored sharpened then it relatively is quite rapid. examine the French revolution although. some situations they intentionally used a lifeless blade, different circumstances they simply used it a lot the blade dulled and that they did no longer get it sharpened. besides deadly injection could desire to be painless, and commonly they locate the vein no subject.

Answer 10

I have no idea executions is one thing I have no interest in