[user104658]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

If their last moments are as spent reflecting on their crime as they drift away then that is as respectful as can be expected.
Anticipating a hail of bullets is an unnecessarily violent end, causing huge amount of fear, anxiety and stress. It's an ordeal rather than a procedure, and let's not forget that the method is not the punishment.

So standing against a wall anticipating a hail of bullets causes a huge amount of fear, anxiety and stress... but being strapped to a table anticipating an injection that will cause your heart to spasm and stop doesn't? In fact, it somehow induces a state of almost meditation-like calm where the person philosophically ponders the implications of their crime? Yes that seems entirely plausible.

Again Kizzy I'm not saying that it isn't an ordeal, or that it isn't barbaric... I'm not saying that the firing squad isn't bad. I'm saying it isn't worse than the lethal injection. It's not that I think death by firing squad is A-OK, it's just that I think you have a very muted and idealised concept of what's involved with the lethal injection. It's NOT like a vet putting down a dog, at all.

I sort of agree with Alex - if it really must be done, the most humane way would be to somehow poison them in their sleep, ideally without them even knowing exactly when it's going to happen. They just go to sleep one night like any other night and don't wake up.