Phil Donahue tried a few years back to get the rights to broadcast executions. He was denied. I was researching a paper on capital punishment, and it occured to me that my yahoo search would likey produce hundreds of sites dedicated to hangings, shootings, etc. Nope. There are certainly sites focussing on morbid subjects, accident photos etc, but very few (authentic) execution-related sites. On one hand, there may be hope for humanity yet, but on the other, isn’t this a little odd?
My question is, given widespread morbid fascination with all things dying, dead and deadly - why isn’t the internet teeming with websites devoted to pics, vids of executions?
I guess executions are more tightly regulated by their very nature. Anyone with a camera can snap an accident by chance; not many people can get in to an execution to film it and distribute it, I’d have thought. Plus, executions are comparatively rare compared to accidents (at least in countries where internet use is relatively widespread). I can only think off-hand of America as a country with mass internet access and executions; certainly not Europe or Australia.
Besides, if the public were allowed to witness executions, they’d be disgusted and the practice would be halted. Think of all of the political rhetoric that would have to be tossed and how many executioners would lose their jobs!
Actually, most states are now using lethal injection. It might NOT disgust people, and would probably be curiously lacking in drama when packaged as entertainment.
With captial punishment supporters Gush and Bore running neck and neck, we may never know the answer to that, will we? I agree with Johnny L.A., it will never be allowed, by the very same people who want to prolong the barbarity.
Why aren’t there many pics of executions? First, I assume you mean modern executions, say 20th century ones, not wild west hangings and such. I’m sure this varies by state, but I was under the impression that cameras simply were not allowed in the room.
My belief comes from the story of a NYS (Sing Sing?) electricution from the 1920s or 30s. Contrary to the rules, a tabloid photographer (from the NY Daily News, I think) managed to sneak a camera, strapped to his ankle under his pants leg, into the execution room. The resulting photograph of the dead convict appeared wall-to-wall on the front page the next day.
The answer is obvious - this country has turned into a bunch of pussies. Reguarding the C&U part of CP, these guys never get what they dished out anyway.
A case frequently made against CP is that it is revenge. My point: so? We celebrate all of our emotions, why not vengence. If more people got to see what was coming, maybe they would think twice about what they were about to do. Remember the ‘Scared Straight’ program?
A lot of what you think (and think is free will thinking) is dogma preached to you as a society. The idea that PE’s are somehow ‘beneath’ us is just that - an idea of this society.
It’s just public policy, man. If you want to see them then write your congressman.
And if it’s a question of sqemishness about pulling the handle, I’ll do it so long as they give me the gold that melts out of their teeth!
The OP was a question about why one sees so few materials on capital punishment. It was not a question of whether the death penalty is a good thing. Please remember what forum you’re in, folks.
Since the factual question has been answered (there’s so little material because executions are tightly controlled), and this thread is destined for GD or the Pit if it stays open, I’m just going to close it.