Odd fact I learned this week about French justice

[grapabeaux]

Earlier this week, Shepard Smith noted that "on this day" (September10), the French executed their last criminal by guillotine.

The year was 1977.

Even until recently before then, the executions were public.

I mean, I guess there's an argument that this is more humane than other methods, but you would think that after indiscriminately killing tens of thousands back in 1789-1793, people would shy away from any reminders of that period.

[jimjames418]

If it bleeds it leads. That is what the news people say anyway.:eek:

[gdoane]

Font of useless information time:

The Guillotine was invented by and named after Dr. Joseph Ignace Guillotin, the extra "e" at the end of the name added to aid English speaking people in pronunciation.

The invention killed off more than a few people, it effectively ended the Guillotin family name as nobody wanted to be associated with such a horrific device.

That Dr. Guillotin was a physician (Founder of the French Academy of Medicine, Deputy to the French Assembly, Government Run Health Care Guy) is shocking to most but his goal was to reduce suffering in the condemned upon execution.

Gee, thanks Doc.

[tully]

Font of useless information time:

The Guillotine was invented by and named after Dr. Joseph Ignace Guillotin, the extra "e" at the end of the name added to aid English speaking people in pronunciation.

The invention killed off more than a few people, it effectively ended the Guillotin family name as nobody wanted to be associated with such a horrific device.

That Dr. Guillotin was a physician (Founder of the French Academy of Medicine, Deputy to the French Assembly, Government Run Health Care Guy) is shocking to most but his goal was to reduce suffering in the condemned upon execution.

Gee, thanks Doc.

Its not good to mess around in France.... I had a friend in college who was outside a Paris pub making an *** of himself and a cop came up behind him and knocked him out with a billy club and he spent the night in jail. No charges.

Not many police brutality laws in France.

[Samm]

Font of useless information time:

The Guillotine was invented by and named after Dr. Joseph Ignace Guillotin, the extra "e" at the end of the name added to aid English speaking people in pronunciation.

The invention killed off more than a few people, it effectively ended the Guillotin family name as nobody wanted to be associated with such a horrific device.

That Dr. Guillotin was a physician (Founder of the French Academy of Medicine, Deputy to the French Assembly, Government Run Health Care Guy) is shocking to most but his goal was to reduce suffering in the condemned upon execution.

Gee, thanks Doc.

Any one who had suffered under a second or third whack by the axe of the executioner would have thanked the good doctor...

The device killed no one... the killing (execution) was done by man. The guillotine was no more horrific than a gun.

[gdoane]

Any one who had suffered under a second or third whack by the axe of the executioner would have thanked the good doctor...

The device killed no one... the killing (execution) was done by man. The guillotine was no more horrific than a gun.

You mean except for the whole maiming the body thing? More than a few religions insist that bodies be intact when buried and obviously the guillotine doesn't work well for that.

One of the last hanging executions in Arizona (my home State) resulted in a decapitation and ended hanging as a punishment here.

In 1930, convicted of First Degree Murder in the death of a man named Arthur Mathis, Eva Dugan's last words were "I don't know where I'm going, but here I come. Let 'er go, boys!" The force of the drop popped off her head. Five corrections officials fainted on the spot. The decapitation of Eva Dugan resulted in Arizona switching to the Gas Chamber. That was the last judicial hanging in this State.

A gory death penalty is no good because it gives opponents of the death penalty an argument to oppose it with. Ideally it should be clean and neat and quick. The guillotine only meets one of those requirements.

[Samm]

You mean except for the whole maiming the body thing? More than a few religions insist that bodies be intact when buried and obviously the guillotine doesn't work well for that.

One of the last hanging executions in Arizona (my home State) resulted in a decapitation and ended hanging as a punishment here.

In 1930, convicted of First Degree Murder in the death of a man named Arthur Mathis, Eva Dugan's last words were "I don't know where I'm going, but here I come. Let 'er go, boys!" The force of the drop popped off her head. Five corrections officials fainted on the spot. The decapitation of Eva Dugan resulted in Arizona switching to the Gas Chamber. That was the last judicial hanging in this State.

A gory death penalty is no good because it gives opponents of the death penalty an argument to oppose it with. Ideally it should be clean and neat and quick. The guillotine only meets one of those requirements.

Every time has it's own sensitivities... When Dr. Guillotine presented his device to the world it was considered vastly more humane over the execution methods of the day. These days, no method of implementing the death penalty is considered humane by the moral standards of some.

[Claymore]

Every time has it's own sensitivities... When Dr. Guillotine presented his device to the world it was considered vastly more humane over the execution methods of the day. These days, no method of implementing the death penalty is considered humane by the moral standards of some.

.45 ACP through the forehead.
Fast, Frugal, Final.

[gdoane]

Every time has it's own sensitivities... When Dr. Guillotine presented his device to the world it was considered vastly more humane over the execution methods of the day. These days, no method of implementing the death penalty is considered humane by the moral standards of some.

It is a moral standard which causes my firm belief in the death penalty. It is obscene that a criminal lives while his victim is buried.

I'd just gas 'em with the dogs at the pound myself. If a criminal is going to act like an animal, then he should die as one. The dogs didn't even commit any crimes and that's what they get. What's good enough for an innocent animal is plenty good enough for a guilty crook.

I do not have the same moral standards of a liberal. Liberals believe that other people's money is an asset that they can bend to their purposes. Liberals believe that taxes are by gum patriotic and then pander for votes from people who don't even PAY taxes. Liberals think that execution is wrong except if it's called an abortion and then it's okay no matter how painful the death might be.

I don't share much morality with liberals. At least the people I think should die had a jury trial. Liberals don't give a fetus even that common decency.

[gdoane]

.45 ACP through the forehead.
Fast, Frugal, Final.

CO2 Emissions from the explosion might cause global warming. Can't have that.

[LouC]

I have read over the years about the question of instantaneous death with the Guillotine and frankly I would very much prefer not to pass that way. :eek:

But even when the blade was quick and efficient, many witnesses said the victim’s head didn’t die instantly.

Reports of grimacing, facial twitches, blinking eyes, mouth movements, and even speech from the severed head are numerous.

In 1905, Dr. Beaurieux reported on his close examination of Henri Languille’s guillotine execution.

While he watched, the blade did its thing and Languille’s head dropped into the basket.

Beaurieux had luck on his side when the head landed on its severed neck in an upright position.

This allowed him to observe Languille’s face without having to touch the head or set it up right.

Beaurieux’s observations:

“the eyelids and lips of the guillotined man worked in irregularly rhythmic contractions for about five or six seconds”

“I called in a strong, sharp voice: “Languille!” I saw the eyelids slowly lift up, without any spasmodic contractions……but with an even movement, quite distinct and normal, such as happens in everyday life, with people awakened or torn from their thoughts.”

“Next Languille’s eyes very definitely fixed themselves on mine and the pupils focused themselves.”

Click LINK (http://writersforensicsblog.wordpress.com/category/medical-issues/)

[Samm]

It is a moral standard which causes my firm belief in the death penalty. It is obscene that a criminal lives while his victim is buried.

I'd just gas 'em with the dogs at the pound myself. If a criminal is going to act like an animal, then he should die as one. The dogs didn't even commit any crimes and that's what they get. What's good enough for an innocent animal is plenty good enough for a guilty crook.

I do not have the same moral standards of a liberal. Liberals believe that other people's money is an asset that they can bend to their purposes. Liberals believe that taxes are by gum patriotic and then pander for votes from people who don't even PAY taxes. Liberals think that execution is wrong except if it's called an abortion and then it's okay no matter how painful the death might be.

I don't share much morality with liberals. At least the people I think should die had a jury trial. Liberals don't give a fetus even that common decency.

In that case... let's relegate the guillotine to the museums... pull their heads off with a noose. ;)

[gdoane]

In that case... let's relegate the guillotine to the museums... pull their heads off with a noose. ;)

The Soylent Green approach is much better. I wouldn't let them pick their favorite color though. Gotta have some punishment.

[Panhead0422]

Earlier this week, Shepard Smith noted that "on this day" (September10), the French executed their last criminal by guillotine.

The year was 1977.

Even until recently before then, the executions were public.

I mean, I guess there's an argument that this is more humane than other methods, but you would think that after indiscriminately killing tens of thousands back in 1789-1793, people would shy away from any reminders of that period. I don't know who to attribute this quote to, but: "Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it."

[Panhead0422]

CO2 Emissions from the explosion might cause global warming. Can't have that.

:doh::wall:What was he NOT thinking.:mrgreen::)):))

[Panhead0422]

In that case... let's relegate the guillotine to the museums... pull their heads off with a noose. ;)

I have a couple of questions:

1. Did the condemned have any concern about their victim or victims and their manner of death?

2. Why should I care what the condemned feel on execution of their sentence?

[Claymore]

CO2 Emissions from the explosion might cause global warming. Can't have that.


The reduction in the overall carbon footprint by the removal of the criminal counterbalances the CO2 emission.

[Samm]

I don't know who to attribute this quote to, but: "Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it."

Google is your friend.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=those+who+do+not+learn+from+history+are+doomed+t o+repeat+it&aq=0&oq=those+who+&aqi=g10

[Samm]

I have a couple of questions:

1. Did the condemned have any concern about their victim or victims and their manner of death?

2. Why should I care what the condemned feel on execution of their sentence?

You are asking the wrong person...

[Samm]

The reduction in the overall carbon footprint by the removal of the criminal counterbalances the CO2 emission.

Only if you sequester the remains where the carbon cannot escape back into the atmosphere.

[Claymore]

Only if you sequester the remains where the carbon cannot escape back into the atmosphere.

One less criminal, less carbon footprint for electric and manufacturing needs. Send the remains to the protien tanks.

[Panhead0422]

You are asking the wrong person...

Sorry about that, the morning coffee hadn't kicked in yet.