Overall about two thirds of Americans support the death penalty as of a 2026 Pew poll. Broken down in Party lines it’s 84% of Republicans in that same poll (because of fucking course they support it that ardently!), but, shockingly, slightly over a half of Democrats also do.
So let’s just call it “savage Americans and their love for the death penalty” for now.
edited: I misread a table and had to update the Democrats’ results.
I think it’s kinda funny that the faction on the internet most likely to post that gif of guillotine blades dropping is the same that is likely to oppose the death penalty. I think life without parole is likely a worse fate, and there are actual humane ways to kill things. The main problem with the death penalty is the uncertainty of our criminal justice system, and occasionally, as with self-confessed mass shooters, that simply doesn’t apply. In those cases, why not? Inert gas is cheap and painless.
Because of course people using guillotine pictures mean that literally instead of figuratively.
You might, incidentally, want to read up on the “painless” part of inert gas. Ideally not from pro-death penalty sources but, say, actual, peer-reviewed medical research. I mean remember when lethal injection was the “painless” option?
Yeah. That.
Here, I’ll help you along, giving you pointers in the right direction and letting you exercise your research muscles to find the actual studies, etc.
There was stuff about this in Experimental Physiology in 2024.
The Journal of the American Medical Association took a hard negative stance on it in 2024.
There was stuff about this in the Journal of Applied Physiology in 2025.
The American Veterinary Medical Association outlaws nitrogen euthanasia for animals because it causes suffering. (The context of this is delicious: It’s in the Supreme Court’s case files.)
But hey, at least the Western New England Law Review agreed with you in 2026. And you know how it goes: if lawyers say it, it must be true, no matter what, you know, actual experts have to say on the topic.
You might, incidentally, want to read up on the “painless” part of inert gas.
I don’t need to. I’ve experienced it. I’ve stuck my head in big reaction chambers before all the Argon has dispersed, and I know exactly what it feels like. If I were suicidal, that’s how I’d do it, and in fact, that’s how many people choose to go. It’s here one second, light headed, then gone. We can detect the overabundance of CO2 in our lungs, but not the absence of O2, so there’s no biological panic signal. Just nothing.
The US doesn’t execute people this way because something something “cruel and unusual doesn’t allow people to feel slightly high on the way out.” It’s bullshit. A humane society with the intention to euthanize or execute people would do so with N2 or another inert gas. We don’t because we choose to be cruel.
As usual, not just Trump.
Overall about two thirds of Americans support the death penalty as of a 2026 Pew poll. Broken down in Party lines it’s 84% of Republicans in that same poll (because of fucking course they support it that ardently!), but, shockingly, slightly over a half of Democrats also do.
So let’s just call it “savage Americans and their love for the death penalty” for now.
edited: I misread a table and had to update the Democrats’ results.
Much like American’s rape and gun culture, they prefer vengeance over justice/rehabilitation.
Even the blue dogs love being brutal in their methods.
I’ve maintained for a while now that the Democrats are just the polite face of American fascism.
Neoliberals gonna lib
They’re conservatives working with reactionaries and fascists with Trump rearing his ugly politics.
A kinder gentler machine gun hand.
Ooh, a person of taste!
I think it’s kinda funny that the faction on the internet most likely to post that gif of guillotine blades dropping is the same that is likely to oppose the death penalty. I think life without parole is likely a worse fate, and there are actual humane ways to kill things. The main problem with the death penalty is the uncertainty of our criminal justice system, and occasionally, as with self-confessed mass shooters, that simply doesn’t apply. In those cases, why not? Inert gas is cheap and painless.
Because of course people using guillotine pictures mean that literally instead of figuratively.
You might, incidentally, want to read up on the “painless” part of inert gas. Ideally not from pro-death penalty sources but, say, actual, peer-reviewed medical research. I mean remember when lethal injection was the “painless” option?
Yeah. That.
Here, I’ll help you along, giving you pointers in the right direction and letting you exercise your research muscles to find the actual studies, etc.
But hey, at least the Western New England Law Review agreed with you in 2026. And you know how it goes: if lawyers say it, it must be true, no matter what, you know, actual experts have to say on the topic.
Oh and forgive me for replying to you twice, but…
You guys were posting those figuratively?!? Uhhhhh… Huh. I thought we had a plan here.
Right? I literally meant literally.
I don’t need to. I’ve experienced it. I’ve stuck my head in big reaction chambers before all the Argon has dispersed, and I know exactly what it feels like. If I were suicidal, that’s how I’d do it, and in fact, that’s how many people choose to go. It’s here one second, light headed, then gone. We can detect the overabundance of CO2 in our lungs, but not the absence of O2, so there’s no biological panic signal. Just nothing.
The US doesn’t execute people this way because something something “cruel and unusual doesn’t allow people to feel slightly high on the way out.” It’s bullshit. A humane society with the intention to euthanize or execute people would do so with N2 or another inert gas. We don’t because we choose to be cruel.
So … you’re full of shit, and when pointed at the evidence you’re full of shit you choose not to investigate how full of shit you are.
Yep. This tracks. You’re an American.
Buh-bye bonehead.
Right. My lived experience is fake because you found some links by googling “inert gas evil pain bad.” Chauvinism has a name and it’s “lemmy.”
How do you think this thing got any support? It’s the most painless way to go.
But do tell me how my own experience felt. I’d love to know!