Ohio GOP Intros Bill Allowing Execution By Nitrogen

January 30, 2024 Politics, Republicans

Ohio lawmakers have introduced a bill that would allow execution by nitrogen gas, a controversial practice critics call untested and lacking in evidence that it’s more humane than lethal injection, after Alabama became the first state to execute someone with nitrogen gas. Ohio state Reps. Phil Plummer and Brian Stewart, both Republicans, introduced legislation during a press conference Tuesday that would allow executions to be conducted via nitrogen gas, known as nitrogen hypoxia.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost expressed his support for the bill during the press conference and said he believes some crimes are “so heinous” they deserve the “ultimate punishment.” Eyewitnesses to Kenneth Smith’s execution said it took 22 minutes to complete and that, “for at least two minutes, he appeared to shake and writhe on the gurney, sometimes pulling against the restraints.” State officials had said Smith would lose consciousnesses within seconds and die within minutes.

Read the full article. Rep. Brian Stewart, you may recall, was behind the failed attempt to make it more difficult to pass an abortion rights ballot measure.

Advocating for the use of nitrogen gas in executions, Ohio AG Dave Yost (R) dismisses a prisoner’s convulsions:

“I don’t think that the behavior of the inmate is indicative at all about the nature of the process and is indicative of the very human instinct to fight for life.” pic.twitter.com/EbCGoDtI6m

— Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) January 30, 2024