Texas stops giving "last meals" before they murder people

[RedAnarchist]

Ha! I wonder if they delivered?

I doubt it. There used to be a list of last meals had by Texan execution victims, but I don't think it's available anywhere now. They do have a list of the last words of those victims on the Texas Department of "Justice" site - http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/executedoffenders.htm, going back to 1982 and which seems to be up to date on the grisly practice. Be warned, though, that the statements are often distressing, and quite a few are claiming innocence.

[EvilRedGuy]

What the fuck? I don't get this thread at all, sorry, it just makes no sense at all. We usually don't have threads like this, i mean crimes of the state which happen every minute we breathe, nothing new here.


Anyway a last meal (i heard it was a eat-all-you-can eat kind of thing?) should definitely be provided, however, execution just dosen't make any sense at all, in the first place. This makes me think though, could you kill survive by eating yourself to death? Don't even know if that is painless. Before the death penalty i mean.

[redtex]

Seems interesting.

I don't understand though, how can your body be suffocating without you feeling a thing?

Because you're still breathing. Since air is mostly nitrogen your body doesn't feel it and you just fall asleep.

I work in the petrochemical industry and workers sometimes die from nitrogen asphyxiation when working in enclosed spaces such as cleaning tanks. We use nitrogen to purge equipment because it's cheap and inert, unlike air which has oxygen. So if a worker unknowingly enters a tank which is filled with pure nitrogen he won't even know it, he just takes a few breaths, passes out and dies a few minutes later totally unaware.

I attend safety classes on this stuff all the time. One thing they emphasise on nitrogen asphyxiation is how it is so not painful that you never even feel it coming. You just drop out.

[EvilRedGuy]

Because you're still breathing. Since air is mostly nitrogen your body doesn't feel it and you just fall asleep.

I work in the petrochemical industry and workers sometimes die from nitrogen asphyxiation when working in enclosed spaces such as cleaning tanks. We use nitrogen to purge equipment because it's cheap and inert, unlike air which has oxygen. So if a worker unknowingly enters a tank which is filled with pure nitrogen he won't even know it, he just takes a few breaths, passes out and dies a few minutes later totally unaware.

I attend safety classes on this stuff all the time. One thing they emphasise on nitrogen asphyxiation is how it is so not painful that you never even feel it coming. You just drop out.

That wouldn't be okay for the imperialists though, knowing them it has to be done the most brutal painful way. Throughout history.

[Zav]

If I had to choose my execution method, I would be hung on a traditional gallows in Central Park so people can see how much the death penalty sucks.

[RedAnarchist]

If I had to choose my execution method, I would be hung on a traditional gallows in Central Park so people can see how much the death penalty sucks.

I doubt it would have the desired effect, to be honest. People see a lot of violence throughout their lives. Plus, public executions used to be common, and people would actually go and watch the execution just like someone today might go to the cinema or to watch a sport.

[Zav]

I doubt it would have the desired effect, to be honest. People see a lot of violence throughout their lives. Plus, public executions used to be common, and people would actually go and watch the execution just like someone today might go to the cinema or to watch a sport.

The violence people see is through a screen, and are numbed to it. It might be different to see in real life, or it might not. It would make a good social experiment if it was fixed such that the hanged didn't die.

[Misanthrope]

Who cares about the food? They are still murdering people in the name of justice.

[RedAnarchist]

The violence people see is through a screen, and are numbed to it. It might be different to see in real life, or it might not. It would make a good social experiment if it was fixed such that the hanged didn't die.

Perhaps, although not all violence is seen through a screen, especially in developing countries, or in inner cities, or even in many homes.

Regarding last meals, I found this - http://www.lastmealsproject.com/pages.html.

[La Comédie Noire]

I don't know how anyone could eat before they were to be put to death. I'd be far too nervous!

The violence people see is through a screen, and are numbed to it.

A lot of people have a severe shock when they see violence and death in real life rather than what they are accustomed to from movies.

[The Stalinator]

You know, I think after locking someone up for ten years and forcing them to mentally count the days until their painful and inevitable state-sanctioned murder in the near future, they deserve a little junk food before they pass on. Even if they were a racist asshole like Brewer.

Just my two cents.

[Nox]

I doubt it. There used to be a list of last meals had by Texan execution victims.

I saw a list of last meals before somewhere, possibly in a book.

I think if you refuse to choose a last meal, they give you lobster or steak (can't remember which).

[freakazoid]

The death penalty isn't murder, unless they was innocent. I'm all for the death penalty as long as it is 100% known that the person did it. The point of the death penalty is to remove a dangerous person from society.

[RedAnarchist]

The death penalty isn't murder, unless they was innocent. I'm all for the death penalty as long as it is 100% known that the person did it. The point of the death penalty is to remove a dangerous person from society.

But what about the US states who are quite obviously racist in their use of the death penalty?

There's also the fact that the death penalty is not having any positive effect on crime rates, nor does it prevent murders from taking place.

[freakazoid]

Racist in their use of the death penalty? I'm assuming that you mean they execute black people more than whites? I'm not sure how states decide to use it, whether it be anyone who commits murder or if it is up to the decision of the judge. I'm sure it changes by state. Would have to look at individual stats. But even if judges had more black people executed, that still doesn't make it murder. More black being convicted is a different issue that should be resolved. Also it's not about having a positive effect on crime rates, it's about removing a dangerous person from society.

[Nox]

Perhaps, although not all violence is seen through a screen, especially in developing countries, or in inner cities, or even in many homes.

Regarding last meals, I found this - http://www.lastmealsproject.com/pages.html.

Wow, I nearly shed a tear watching that. Can't wait for the book to be released.

They've got the technique bang on, it's such an emotional thing to watch.

[Nox]

Racist in their use of the death penalty?

Yup.

79% of the victims of crimes that have resulted in a death penalty have been white.

So basically, if a white guy gets murdered, the murderer is very likely to be given the death penalty, the same can't be said for blacks - only 14% of the victims of crimes that have resulted in a death penalty have been black.

[freakazoid]

Victims of "crimes"?

[Nox]

Victims of "crimes"?

Crimes that resulted in the death penalty. It's all there in plain English.

[freakazoid]

These are some dubious stats.