When we analyze the advantages and disadvantages of the death penalty and whether it should be maintained or abolished in the United States, we must analyze the different methods of 'execution. There are five main ways to carry out the death penalty procedure, namely lethal injection, electrocution, lethal gas, hanging and firing squad. Lethal injection is the most common method of execution and "as of July 1, 2006, 81 percent of executions carried out since 1976 were lethal injections, including 375 of the last 378 executions" (Methods of Capital Punishment). Lethal injection is the combination of three drugs. Five grams of sodium pentothal makes the prisoner lose consciousness. The second drug, called pancuronium bromide and administered in a dose of 50 cc, relaxes the criminal's muscles and paralyzes the diaphragm and lungs. The last drug, 50 cc of potassium chloride, causes cardiac arrest. The drugs are administered intravenously into each of the criminal's arms. The second method of execution is electrocution, in which "the punishment shall be carried out by passing through the body of the condemned person an electric current of sufficient intensity to cause death, and by applying and continuing this current through the body of this condemned man. the condemned will continue until he is dead” (Methods of capital punishment). The criminal or offender is placed in the electric chair and a damp sponge is placed between the electrode and the offender's scalp. 2,300 volts are given for 8 seconds, followed by 1,000 volts for 22 seconds, then another 2,300 volts are given again. Execution by electrocution was once the primary method, but there were too many botched executions for lethal injection to be the best and most effective method. As for today,...... middle of paper ......, and lethal gas should not be used as a method of execution in my opinion. The primary method of execution should be firing squad, as it is the most humane and effective way to kill someone without torturing them. Six guys with guns line up and they all shoot at the same time, so no one is exactly the culprit. I think the United States and each individual state needs to start using or increasing the use of the death penalty. Criminals must know, when committing a heinous crime, that there is a risk and that they could be put to death for their actions. I believe that when this threat is high enough and enforced enough, crime will decrease in the United States. In conclusion, criminals have made their choice by committing serious crimes and should now face the consequences of their actions by ending their lives using the death penalty..