Is a family watching someone die from lethal injection any differnt than watchng a town square cheer a hanging?

The families of victims of crime should absolutely be permitted to watch. The lethal injection is personal to them. They're aren't random sadistic people cheering in the streets. They are trying to find comfort in the fact that perpetrators of horrific crime lives are ended and, probably, in a lot of cases, cold comfort. I would suggest holding judgement until your mother or sister (and hopefully it will never happen) is kidnapped, raped, tortured and killed.