It's right to be horrified at the deaths from chemical weapons.

[FiveGoodMen]

It's wrong NOT to be just as horrified when similar numbers are murdered in other ways.

[Warpy]

1. The problem with chemical weapons

is that the gas drifts into places you never intended it to go unless you're a complete madman.

Given a choice between a quick death from cyanide gas and a prolonged one from being sliced, burned or crushed, I'll take the gas, thanks.

[sharp_stick]

4. Chemical weapons are not a

quick death, you basically suffocate.

From: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/dirty-nerve-agents-sarin-20074361

They break down an enzyme that allows nerves to talk to each other, so victims become over-stimulated. In addition to other symptoms, there's chest tightening, rapid breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, confusion, headache, changes in heart rate, loss of consciousness, convulsions and paralysis. Eventually, and depending on dose levels it could only be a matter of minutes, you do die of respiratory failure, Adalja said.

Cyanide gas is even slower, it was used in gas chambers and routinely took more than 10 or 15 minutes to kill. Again death is basically suffocation.

[Warpy]

5. it depends on the agent and the concentration

Cyanide is a very rapid killer. It binds to oxygen transport sites on red blood cells and once bound, does not let go unless an antidote is administered quickly. Unconsciousness is rapid although death might take a little time.

[msongs]

2. 32,000 americans killed in auto wrecks in 2011...where's the outrage? nt

[FiveGoodMen]

3. I'd be more outraged if that was done deliberately.

So would everyone else, I think.