Arkansas

Eugene

(64,188 posts) Tue Mar 18, 2025, 07:09 PM Mar 18

Arkansas governor signs legislation allowing executions by nitrogen gas

Source: Associated Press

Arkansas governor signs legislation allowing executions by nitrogen gas

By ANDREW DEMILLO
Updated 6:33 PM EDT, March 18, 2025

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed legislation Tuesday allowing executions using nitrogen gas, making Arkansas the fifth state to adopt a method that opponents say is unconstitutional.

The measure signed into law by the Republican governor has been promoted by supporters as a way to carry out executions for the first time in eight years. Arkansas currently has 25 people on death row.

Arkansas has not had an execution since 2017, when it put four people to death before a sedative used in its lethal injection protocol expired. The attorney general’s office has said the state has been unable to purchase more lethal injection drugs because of manufacturers’ opposition to their use in executions.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/executions-arkansas-nitrogen-sarah-huckabee-sanders-4af9ebd60f272f65a09e266444bb0831

12 replies

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Arkansas governor signs legislation allowing executions by nitrogen gas (Original Post) Eugene Mar 18 OP

Wow, we really went from "We're going to Mars!" to "Here's a new way to execute people!" ck4829 Mar 18 #1

You would think Egwinsi Mar 18 #2

There is a lot of "stuff" the Arkansas General Assembly is working on. TomSlick Mar 18 #6

This message was self-deleted by its author wcmagumba Mar 18 #3

Horrible. 58Sunliner Mar 18 #4

Does this give the inmate a choice to choose the method of execution? berniesandersmittens Mar 18 #5

No. TomSlick Mar 18 #7

Barbaric nt berniesandersmittens Mar 18 #8

That's the point. TomSlick Mar 18 #9

The medical expert on charge openly said he let his nursing degree lapse berniesandersmittens Mar 18 #10

Especially these days RazorbackExpat Mar 18 #11

I'm on a committee that reads all bills introduced in the General Assembly - each on reading 1/20th of the bills. TomSlick Mar 18 #12

ck4829

(36,877 posts)

1. Wow, we really went from "We're going to Mars!" to "Here's a new way to execute people!"

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Tue Mar 18, 2025, 07:11 PM

Mar 18

Egwinsi

(64 posts)

2. You would think

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Tue Mar 18, 2025, 07:13 PM

Mar 18

There are more pressing issues at hand for the people of Arkansas than legalizing different methods of killing people.

Maybe now that this is done, they can get back to the REAL issues like low education rankings, high child poverty, high crime rates, etc.

Right...?

TomSlick

(12,276 posts)

6. There is a lot of "stuff" the Arkansas General Assembly is working on.

Reply to Egwinsi (Reply #2)

Tue Mar 18, 2025, 08:45 PM

Mar 18

Education, child poverty, and crime are not on the list.

I'm surprised the General Assembly didn't opt for execution by firing squad. It could have been a revenue producer if the State auctioned off slots in the firing squad. The Bubbas would have run up the bidding.

Response to Eugene (Original post)

wcmagumba This message was self-deleted by its author.

58Sunliner

(5,537 posts)

4. Horrible.

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Tue Mar 18, 2025, 07:31 PM

Mar 18

berniesandersmittens

(12,091 posts)

5. Does this give the inmate a choice to choose the method of execution?

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Tue Mar 18, 2025, 07:34 PM

Mar 18

TomSlick

(12,276 posts)

7. No.

Reply to berniesandersmittens (Reply #5)

Tue Mar 18, 2025, 08:49 PM

Mar 18

The issue is that the State has been unable to purchase drugs for execution by lethal injection. Nitrogen can be bought from a welding supply business.

berniesandersmittens

(12,091 posts)

8. Barbaric nt

Reply to TomSlick (Reply #7)

Tue Mar 18, 2025, 09:22 PM

Mar 18

TomSlick

(12,276 posts)

9. That's the point.

Reply to berniesandersmittens (Reply #8)

Tue Mar 18, 2025, 09:24 PM

Mar 18

No one ever moved to Arkansas to have their conscience raised.

berniesandersmittens

(12,091 posts)

10. The medical expert on charge openly said he let his nursing degree lapse

Reply to TomSlick (Reply #9)

Tue Mar 18, 2025, 09:33 PM

Mar 18

What is going on.

RazorbackExpat

(432 posts)

11. Especially these days

Reply to TomSlick (Reply #9)

Tue Mar 18, 2025, 10:23 PM

Mar 18

It's like the state is trying to live up (down?) to its image that was portrayed in old cartoons like Hillbilly Hare (Bugs Bunny), The Flintstones (feud with the Hatrocks in Arkanstone), the Wacky Races (the Arkansas Chugabug driven by a hillbilly and powered by moonshine), and various addle-brained characters whose theme music was The Arkansas Traveler

TomSlick

(12,276 posts)

12. I'm on a committee that reads all bills introduced in the General Assembly - each on reading 1/20th of the bills.