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September 22, 2014
Serious talk about a serious alternative (nitrogen) to lethal injection in Oklahoma
Whether one is a supporter or opponent of the death penalty, any and all fans of good government should be encouraged by this editorial from The Oklahoman headlined "Death penalty treated seriously in Oklahoma interim study." Here are excerpts:
Oklahoma was a trailblazer in the use of one form of execution — lethal injection. Could it play that role again with the use of nitrogen?
A legislative study requested by Rep. Mike Christian, R-Oklahoma City, reviewed the potential merits of using nitrogen to execute death row inmates in Oklahoma. To state lawmakers’ credit, this study was conducted with appropriate seriousness. There was reason to worry it might instead turn into a forum for grandstanding, partly because of Christian’s own past comments and actions.
In April, Christian called for the impeachment of Oklahoma Supreme Court justices who supported a temporary stay of execution for Clayton Derrell Lockett. “I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don’t care if it’s by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, guillotine or being fed to the lions,” Christian, a former state trooper, said then. “I look forward to justice being served.”
Yet the problems that occurred during Lockett’s execution, once it did move forward, prompted renewed national debate about the death penalty and led Christian to request a review. When he filed that request in June, Christian said the study would explore the idea of giving condemned prisoners the option of death by firing squad, hanging or the electric chair, with firing squads made the primary, default option.....
Despite Christian’s past “fed to the lions” rhetoric, he appears to have put serious thought into this issue. At the House study, he shifted focus from using firing squads to using nitrogen for executions. Faculty members from East Central University discussed research on nitrogen hypoxia.
A 1961 study involving human volunteers who hyperventilated on nitrogen found that subjects lost consciousness after just 20 seconds and reported no physical discomfort. There is little sense of suffocation involved. Many euthanasia organizations reportedly support the use of nitrogen gas.
The use of nitrogen would eliminate the need to find execution drugs for lethal injection, which has become increasingly difficult. And the process of administering an execution would be much simpler.
Those are good selling points. Still, it’s reasonable to wonder: Why has no other state adopted this method of execution if it’s superior? In 1977, Oklahoma became the first state to adopt lethal injection as a means of execution, although Texas was ultimately the first state to employ the procedure. But that was a different era. Being the first state to authorize a new execution method today would undoubtedly prompt numerous legal challenges, increasing taxpayer costs and slowing executions once again.
This is a debate with no easy answers, no cure-all for logistical challenges, and no permanent consensus achievable regarding the ultimate morality of the death penalty and its practical application. But state lawmakers, Christian in particular, deserve credit for taking a serious, thoughtful approach to this ultimate application of government power.
A few recent related and older posts:
- Is nitrogen gas the best modern execution alternative to lethal injection?
- A worldly perspective on different execution methods
- Shouldn't Congress be holding hearings to explore federal and state execution methods?
- Poll after ugly execution highlights enduring death penalty support and openness to various execution methods
- Should problems with lethal injection prompt return of other execution methods?
September 22, 2014 at 09:23 AM | Permalink
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Comments
As someone against the death penalty, I appreciate serious attempts to deal with the issue at hand, so do find it reassuring. I doubt it will go anywhere, partially since the general public will find "gassing" dubious, and won't catch the nuance. But, serious attempts to govern, even in ways I don't like, does advance good government in the long run. Optimistically speaking.
Posted by: Joe | Sep 22, 2014 3:53:41 PM
How about TNT? Cheaper than nitro!
Sure would be lotta fun to watch 'em blow up. Peeple'd pay fer that!
Posted by: Al Ammo | Sep 22, 2014 4:10:26 PM
Should Kent Scheidegger ask for royalties, having pushed for this idea before?
This would remove any issue on supply and enable the taking of organs from such convicts.
Posted by: visitor | Sep 22, 2014 4:19:03 PM