When some gets a lethal injection, why do they swab their arm with alcohol?

[NFS4]

I was just listening to George Carlin's comedy sketch (just the other week) from a few years back concerning deathrow inmates who have their arms swabbed with alcohol before they are given the lethal injection. WHAT'S THE POINT? If they are gonna die, why even bother with the swabbing of alcohol? I mean, the inevidable is near.

And I'm sitting here watching Dead Man Walking and George was right, swab the alcohol before sticking in the needle.

Anyway, just something that struck me as odd...

 

[Poontos]

Only the lord knows now.

 

[Regine]

Kind of a waste of alcohol. Now you know how your tax money is spent

 

[BiggieN]

send that unused alcohol this direction...

 

[Poontos]

Ahhh... so good to be Canadian.

We just waist our tax dollars on hospitalizing American's that come up here to drink our beer.

Must be too strong.

 

[prodigy]

Do you know if they do that in real life? It could've just been a mistake from the movie

 

[Rudee]

Well, it's like saying "If they are going to kill you anyway, why not just shoot you in the head" A bullet is cheaper than a needle.

Either way, they have to be humane whether the person is getting a flu shot of the needle of death.

 

[NFS4]

<< Do you know if they do that in real life? It could've just been a mistake from the movie >>


I've never seen a &quot;killing&quot; in person so I wouldn't know. Let's ask George :Q


<< Well, it's like saying &quot;If they are going to kill you anyway, why not just shoot you in the head&quot; A bullet is cheaper than a needle.

Either way, they have to be humane whether the person is getting a flu shot of the needle of death. >>


Wait a minute, there's a big difference. A bullet is messy. The swab isn't gonna do any good if you're gonna be dead in a few minutes.

 

[SackOfAllTrades]

Ya, give that inmate just a hint of alcohol before he dies!!! I think sticking someone with a needle without alcohol can be quite painful and the poor guy is gonna die anyway, at least make him feel comfortable.

Why don't we just start posioning their last meals?

 

[Pennstate]

<send that unused alcohol this direction... >

yeah I like to see you drink isopropyl alcohol...

 

[NFS4]

<< Ya, give that inmate just a hint of alcohol before he dies!!! I think sticking someone with a needle without alcohol can be quite painful and the poor guy is gonna die anyway, at least make him feel comfortable.

Why don't we just start posioning their last meals? >>


No, but instead of getting two sticks of butter with that toast, maybe only give 'em one...

 

[bonkers325]

its been a traditional with alcohol rub then needle shot

Cheers,
bonkers325

 

[Muerto]

I've heard that George Carlin mp3 as well. I didn't quite understand why they swabed prisoner's arms either. Like you said, what's the point?

 

[prodigy]

Yeah what's the point? (no pun intended )

 

[fragarific]

It's just a comedy scetch. Has anyone here seen it done and know they use it?

Always question your sources.

 

[Valhalla1]

I asked this a long time ago on the AT ubb.

its basically just for show, to appear more humane and professional. they have rubber gloves, swab with alcohol, etc., kinda candy-coating the whole process.

would look slightly more barbaric if a grundgy prison guard scratches his nuts, pulls his wedge, picks his nose... pulls a rusty, bloody needle out of his pocket and just jabs it any-old-where on the executionee

 

[fragarific]

prodigy!! how's it going?

 

[yakko]

An even better question is why don't they just reuse the same needle?

 

[BoberFett]

<< We just waist our tax dollars >>

Maybe Canada should spend some of those tax dollars on the fscking school system so they don't crank out any more like you.

 

[SackOfAllTrades]

why give him a last meal then?

I dunno, who really cares? Dwelling on stuff like this only makes people more bitter about life. Cheer up guys!

 

[StageLeft]

Yeah not he funniest of topics I wouldn't pick LI if I had to go...

 

[Oyeve]

ahahahahahahahahahahaah! hehehehehehehehehehehe! Love that comeback Bober! Ya killing me! damn canucks!

 

[Pretender]

My guess (now that I think about it it's possible): In case the execution is cancelled at the last moment, and then the ungrateful bastard (whose life was moments away from being aborted) sues the state for an infection due to the fact that he was injected insterilely.

 

[Dedpuhl]

George Carlin Rules!! I especially like when he talks of religion

 

[Viper GTS]

Pretender has it right, I think. The lethal injection doesn't start until the chemicals start flowing, &amp; the needle is put in place before the execution is scheduled to take happen.

That way if the execution is cancelled, they haven't done any damage.

Viper GTS