Sorry for the thread drift, maybe someone could enlighten me and then you can continue as though I never asked...

How many states have the death penalty?

How does it work, does it mean that if you commited the crime in that state you could be given the DP?

Or is it the state that you are arrested in that decides your fate?

I don't agree with it myself, but why don't they sort of do it like a firing squad...where ten people all press the switch, but nobody knows who's switch was the 'live' one? That way nobody can revel in the glory of being the executioner or have pangs of conscience over it, should they ever have a change of heart over the DP.