Poll boosts lethal injections Nobody can accuse Florida residents of being ''soft'' on crime. A new poll shows 92 percent of the state's population favor the death penalty. Those favoring a switch to injections, indicated they thought it would be quicker and less painful than the electric chair - although medical experts say death is instantaneous in the chair.
Injections clearly are pain-free.
They also appear less violent, which makes them less controversial. It seems odd that killers are spared the pain most noncriminals must suffer when dying. Nevertheless, if that makes executions more palatable, it is a good policy. As long as electrocutions are used, there is a chance that some day a liberal judge will declare them unconstitutional. Switching to lethal injections won't silence opponents of the death penalty, but will nullify one of their arguments.