Oxygen..

[Anomalocaris]

This is true

I've always wondered why executions were not done with a CPAP mask and a bottle of helium that can be purchased at a party store.

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How many chickens did you have to nick to figure this out Chuck?

Helium is an expensive way to execute someone, why not use nitrogen, much cheaper. I saw a film where they had volunteers in a chamber with oxygen masks on, some had the oxygen reduced and replaced with nitrogen... they didn't notice, just went to sleep. A low cost and painless way to kill someone if that's what you really need to do.

Helium gas must be extracted as a mining and drilling byproduct. Available mines that produced helium in useful quantities have mostly been exhausted. There are a lot of practical uses for helium and a very finite total inventoy without realistic prospect of serious replenishment in the near future. What is available shouldn't be wasted.