Several activists who oppose the death penalty ⁤gathered at the chapel within Quapaw Quarter United ‍Methodist Church Friday morning to show reporters what it is like​ to wear⁣ the mask typically used for nitrogen gas executions around the country.

Rev. Jeff Hood, a priest at St. Oscar Romero Old Catholic⁣ Church, joined other activists from Death Penalty Action and the Execution Intervention project.They lamented⁢ that Arkansas has become another one of a handful of states that allow for ‍death row prisoners to be executed by nitrogen gas.

Gov. Sarah ⁢Huckabee Sanders signed Act 302 in March,‍ and it whent into effect Aug. 5.

With the new law, Arkansas joins Louisiana, alabama, Oklahoma and Mississippi in legalizing the use of this method of execution. During a nitrogen gas execution, a respirator mask — ‍the ⁣type often used by firefighters — is ⁣strapped to a person’s head. The idea is that a person simply inhales nitrogen through the mask, depriving them of oxygen, until they die. This deprivation⁣ of⁤ oxygen⁣ is‍ also known as hypoxia. It’s quick, painless ‍and efficient, supporters of‍ this​ method say.

But anti-death penalty activists say that ‌the reality is more ‍elaborate than that,and this method brings on suffering and fear. The group wants‌ Sanders to end⁣ this method of execution.

“I appeal⁢ to ​you [Sanders] ‍ to reverse this decision​ on the basis of humaneness and⁢ on the basis of the faith⁢ that you profess,” Mark‍ Barnes said. “I’m ​not naive. I understand that many prisoners on death ‌row⁣ have committed terrible crimes. This is not an issue of their innocence or guilt. This is an issue​ of justice. Execution is not justice. It is retribution. It does not end or prevent violence. it perpetuates it.”

Michael Orr is a United Methodist, a denomination⁢ that officially opposes the death penalty.

“It terrifies me to realize that when a state begins to take away the gift of life, they will⁣ not stop ⁢taking other rights away,” Orr said. “and then…looking at the ways to do⁢ it, we’ve chosen a very barbaric, very heinous sort of way ​to execute people.”

Orr said that an⁢ official from the Arkansas Department of Corrections framed⁢ nitrogen executions as painless and quick without any references or research to back that up.

Alabama was the first⁢ state‌ to use nitrogen gas as an execution method in 2024.

The United Nations denounced Alabama’s nitrogen execution of Kenneth Smith⁢ in 2024, citing experts that say there is no‍ proof that this method ⁣does not cause great‌ suffering and likened the method to torture.

Hood has witnessed many state executions and has acted as a spiritual advisor to ⁢several death row inmates. He witnessed Smith’s execution ‌ and described it‌ as‍ a harrowing event in wich ⁤Smith ​convulsed, his head hitting the mask violently as​ bodily fluids exited his face. This happened for several minutes as Hood saw the terror on ‌Smith’s face as he was ⁢actively being suffocated. Hood said it ‌took over⁢ 20 minutes for Smith to actually die.

Ebrahim Abu Nasrah, a local activist, said that Jesus was about love, compassion and forgiveness, and that if he were around‌ today he would question ​this government.

“When I think about Arkansas, and what we’re trying to‌ do⁢ as a state to become more innovative, to bring‌ technology⁢ in,‍ this is not the right technology to bring in,” Abu ⁢nasrah said. “We shoudl be focusing on other things, other than trying to find new and innovative ways ‍to ⁤try to ⁢kill people.”

courtney ⁣Maxwell,​ an activist involved in the ‍50501 protests in Arkansas, compared ‌the actions of Arkansas’s government to fascism.

“Fascism thrives on dehumanization,” Maxwell said. “In Mussolini’s Italy, Hitler’s Germany, ​Franco’s Spain, the pattern was clear. first, label people as enemies, criminals or undesirables, then strip away‍ their rights, then remove them⁣ from ‌public life entirely. ⁤And remove the life from them ​itself. When ⁣we hear of nitrogen gas executions in ⁤our own time, we must remember the past echo.”

Hood​ testified at ⁤the state Capitol to let​ lawmakers know what nitrogen execution looks like. It was clear ‍most lawmakers knew very little about⁣ the topic, he said.

“…there were committee ‍members when I was ⁣recounting the story…who were tearing up.⁢ They were upset, the thought of this happening in Arkansas, and it wasn’t 10 ⁤minutes later ‌that they all voted to pass nitrogen hypoxia here in Arkansas.It shows⁤ us ⁤that we’ve taken⁢ the humanity ⁤out of the process,” Hood said.

Hood held up a mask of the kind that has been used in these executions. He said that the silicone straps of‍ the mask have to be⁢ pulled back as much as possible. Corrections officers hold an‌ inmate down to put the mask on, he said.

“Can you imagine⁣ putting this on ⁣someone who’s rocking their head back and forth and doesn’t want to‍ put ⁣it ​on?”

The mask’s seal is supposed ​to be tight to prevent oxygen getting in, which could prolong ⁣the suffocation process. Hood said that oxygen gets into the mask nonetheless of how tight it is strapped on someone’s face.

“There’s no ‌such thing as a pure ⁤nitrogen execution,” he said.

Hood said he is haunted by his memories of watching a nitrogen execution.

“We’re not talking about a peaceful, going to the dentist, put⁣ your head back kind of ‍thing.We’re talking about torture of the person,‌ torture of the people⁣ who are⁣ involved, torture of the people that see it,” Hood said.

Abu Nasrah helped strap the mask onto ⁢Hood’s head. It⁤ was tight around ‍his head ⁣and red pressure lines formed around his‍ face at the mask’s⁢ edges.⁣ His face⁤ quickly turned red as he tried to speak. It was difficult to hear him speak. Hood said the mask was very uncomfortable.

“This is not‍ what this mask is for, obviously,” he said. “This is a respirator mask.Oftentimes, ⁤you’ll see masks like this on firefighters. But we have an captivating way, don’t we, as a society, turning ⁢things⁢ that ‍are meant‌ for good⁢ into things that are evil.”

Hood noted that compared to lethal injections, masks are cheap. Some states have paid ⁣thousands​ of dollars for the lethal drugs used in ‍state executions. Hood said ⁤he spent around‍ $400 for the ⁢mask.

On Aug. 5,the day Arkansas’s new execution law⁤ took effect,10 death row inmates filed a⁣ lawsuit ⁢ in Pulaski County Circuit Court challenging the constitutionality of ⁢the ‌nitrogen method.

Hood called out the hypocrisy of ⁢officials who say they​ adhere to Christian principles yet support taking ⁤the lives of others.

“Who would Jesus execute?” Hood asked.⁣ “I mean, ​my ‍God, to even have to ask that question.”

Nitrogen gas Executions: Arkansas Joins ⁤states Utilizing Controversial Method

Table of Contents

• Nitrogen gas Executions: Arkansas Joins ⁤states Utilizing Controversial Method
  • The Rise⁤ of Nitrogen Hypoxia
  • Activist Response and Concerns
  • Eyewitness ‌Accounts and International Condemnation
  • Legal Challenges ⁣and Cost ⁣Considerations
  • Ethical and Religious Concerns
  • Key data: Nitrogen Gas Execution ‌Timeline
    • Frequently Asked Questions About ‌Nitrogen Gas⁢ Executions

little Rock, Arkansas – ‍Arkansas became the ‍fifth⁢ state to authorize execution by nitrogen⁣ gas on ⁢August 5, following⁣ the⁣ enactment of Act 302,‍ signed into law by governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders in March. This development has ignited a fierce debate regarding the ⁤ethical and ⁢constitutional‍ implications ‌of this‌ relatively ​new​ method of capital punishment.

The Rise⁤ of Nitrogen Hypoxia

Arkansas now joins Alabama, ‍Louisiana, Mississippi, and Oklahoma in permitting the use of nitrogen gas.The procedure involves securing a respirator mask – similar to those used by firefighters – to the condemned​ individual’s head. The ⁢intent is⁢ for the inmate‍ to inhale pure nitrogen, displacing oxygen and causing hypoxia, ultimately leading to death. Proponents argue this method is swift and painless.

Though, critics contend that the reality is⁤ far more⁢ complex and possibly agonizing. Activists fear the process induces suffering and intense psychological distress.

Did You Know?

Nitrogen hypoxia works by replacing oxygen⁤ in the lungs with nitrogen, leading ‌to‌ oxygen deprivation without causing physical pain in the traditional sense,​ but the experience can be profoundly terrifying.

Activist Response and Concerns

On Friday morning, a group of death penalty ⁣opponents gathered at⁢ Quapaw Quarter united Methodist Church to demonstrate the experience of ⁣wearing⁤ a nitrogen gas execution mask. ⁢Reverend Jeff Hood, of St. Oscar romero Old Catholic ‍Church, and representatives from ⁣Death Penalty Action and the Execution Intervention Project, voiced their opposition to the new law. They are urging Governor Sanders to⁤ reconsider its implementation.

“I appeal to you [Sanders] to reverse⁢ this decision on the basis of humaneness and on the basis of the ⁤faith ‌that ⁢you profess,” stated Mark Barnes, an activist with Death Penalty Action. “This ⁢is​ not an issue of their innocence​ or guilt. This ⁤is an issue of justice. Execution is not ⁢justice. It​ is retribution.”

Michael Orr, a United Methodist,⁣ expressed concern that the state’s move to authorize ⁢this execution method signals a broader‌ erosion of rights. “It terrifies me ​to realize that​ when a state begins to‍ take away the gift of life, they will not ​stop taking other rights away,” ⁢Orr ⁢said.

Eyewitness ‌Accounts and International Condemnation

The United Nations has‍ condemned the use of nitrogen⁤ gas, particularly following Alabama’s execution of Kenneth Smith in January 2024. UN‌ experts stated there is no evidence to suggest the method is painless and likened it to torture .⁣

Reverend Hood, who witnessed Smith’s execution, ‍described a harrowing‍ scene.He reported Smith convulsed violently, ‍his head repeatedly ‌striking the mask, with bodily fluids escaping his ‍face for over 20 minutes before death.

Pro Tip:

The prolonged and visibly distressing ⁤nature of ‌Smith’s execution has fueled concerns about the humane submission of nitrogen hypoxia.

Legal Challenges ⁣and Cost ⁣Considerations

On August 5,‍ ten death row inmates in Arkansas filed a lawsuit in Pulaski county Circuit Court, challenging the constitutionality of ⁣the nitrogen gas method. Simultaneously occurring, the financial implications ⁤of different execution methods are coming under scrutiny.While nitrogen gas masks are relatively inexpensive⁢ – ​Reverend Hood estimates ⁣a⁢ cost of around $400 – other states have spent considerably more on lethal injection ⁤drugs. For example, Arizona spent $1.5 million on execution drugs while facing a budget shortfall,and Tennessee has spent nearly ⁢$600,000⁢ since ⁢2017 ,.

Ethical and Religious Concerns

Activists like Ebrahim Abu Nasrah questioned the​ compatibility of the new execution method ​with religious principles.‍ “if he were around today ⁣he would question this government,” Abu Nasrah said, referencing Jesus’s teachings of love and forgiveness. Courtney Maxwell, ⁤an activist, ‍drew parallels between the actions of Arkansas’s government and historical instances of‌ fascism, ⁤emphasizing the dangers of dehumanization.

Reverend Hood, reflecting on his experiences, ​posed a stark question: “Who would Jesus execute?”

Key data: Nitrogen Gas Execution ‌Timeline

State	Authorization ⁢Date
Alabama	2024
Louisiana	2023
Mississippi	2023
Oklahoma	2015
Arkansas	August 5, ⁢2025

Do you believe nitrogen gas execution is a humane alternative to other methods of capital ‍punishment? What⁢ role should religious and ethical considerations⁣ play in the debate over the death penalty?

The debate surrounding nitrogen gas executions​ is part of⁣ a ‌larger, decades-long discussion about capital punishment⁤ in the United States.Historically, methods of‍ execution have evolved, from hanging and ‌firing squads to electrocution and ⁣lethal⁤ injection, each facing its own set of legal and ethical challenges.The increasing difficulty in sourcing lethal injection drugs has driven states to⁣ explore alternative methods, with nitrogen hypoxia ‌emerging as a prominent, though controversial, ‌option. The future of capital punishment in the U.S. remains uncertain, with ongoing legal battles and shifting public opinion ‍shaping its trajectory.

Frequently Asked Questions About ‌Nitrogen Gas⁢ Executions

• What is nitrogen hypoxia? Nitrogen hypoxia is a condition caused ⁣by ⁢a lack of oxygen,achieved by breathing in pure nitrogen gas.
• Is nitrogen gas ‍execution painless? ⁣ There is no conclusive evidence to support claims of a ‍painless execution,​ and experts raise concerns about‍ potential suffering.
• Which states currently allow nitrogen gas​ executions? ‍ As​ of August 2025,Alabama,Louisiana,Mississippi,Oklahoma,and Arkansas authorize this method.
• What are the ethical concerns surrounding‌ nitrogen gas executions? Critics argue the method is inhumane and potentially‌ constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.
• How does the cost of nitrogen gas execution compare to ⁤lethal injection? ‌ Nitrogen gas executions are significantly cheaper than lethal injection, which‌ frequently enough involves expensive and difficult-to-obtain‍ drugs.

This is a⁣ developing story. ⁣Share your thoughts in the comments below, ‌and subscribe to world-today-news.com for the latest updates on this and other crucial news events.