Kenneth Smith ‘struggled for life’ for 22 minutes in Alabama nitrogen gas execution: Updates

I'll admit it. I'm one of them.

The report is in direct conflict with what I've seen and heard in the past about this method. It's impossible to find right now on Google, but there was a documentary where someone subjects themselves to this method and it was the complete opposite of what's being reported now.

I'm against the death penalty, btw, but if it has to be done, I believed this method was the most humane. I have to ask if it was 100% nitrogen or did they do what the justice system always does and run it through hundreds of iterations to actually make it worse, like 50% air, 50% nitrogen or something like that.

We are here, learn to read. They did it wrong, just like they usually botch every single form of execution because cruelty is the point. Thus, stop all execution and remove the dead penalty.

The difference between a model and reality is often in the implementation. Clearly, this person had access to oxygen for 22 minutes after the execution started, which is a problem if you goal is to suffocate someone quickly. He was also suffering, which is possibly an indication that CO2 levels were too high, which would be another problem. It could also just be due to stress, which is unavoidable in an execution. Seizures near the time of death are also likely.

Ultimately, inert gas asphyxiation, if done correctly, is still probably the most humane means of execution, except for a large caliber bullet to the brain, which is very messy.

These issues are all secondary to the question of whether capital punishment should ever be used. I've stated my beliefs on that before. In short, it should never be done but if you're going to do it, it should be as humane as possible.