Summary
Louisiana is set to execute Jessie Hoffman by nitrogen gas on Tuesday, becoming the second state to use this method despite banning it for euthanizing cats and dogs under state law.
Lawyers argue the method constitutes cruel punishment, citing four recent Alabama executions where prisoners showed distress signs including violent shaking and convulsions.
Louisiana veterinarian Lee Capone, who helped ban animal gassing in the state, called Hoffman’s planned execution “horrific.”
A federal judge’s temporary stay was overturned Friday by the fifth circuit court. Three major nitrogen manufacturers have blocked their products from being used in executions.
And none of the states using nitrogen as an execution method have any intention of doing it “properly” (obligatory “death penalty is fundamentally wrong”).
Yea, if we assume for the sake of argument that we should be executing people are all, nitrogen gas seems like a pretty good way to do it. I’ve never made a detailed study, but I’ve worked with the stuff, and had the safety training. Apparently there is no “danger” signal from the body, and you just keel over.
As an execution method, it’s perfectly fine. Problem is with how they’re doing it. The article shows a full face mask. Those are hard enough to get sealed correctly even if it’s the right size for you. With an unwilling participant and presumably a one-size-fits-all mask, they’re definitely going to be leaking oxygen in, which makes it a slow death while they gasp for more oxygen
I can’t see any reason not to just flood the room. Nitrogen isn’t expensive.