This document discusses capital punishment or the death penalty. It defines the death penalty as the sentence of death upon a person by the state as punishment for an offense. It then lists some common methods of execution including lethal injection, firing squad, electric chair, hanging, and stoning. The document notes concerns about the cruelty of execution methods, that executions cannot be undone if the person is innocent, and cites a religious view against killing. It also discusses how perceptions and emotions influence views of different execution methods as appearing more or less cruel based on how painful they seem.