Oklahoma To Use Nitrogen For Executions If Lethal Injections Are Banned

Executions have been placed on hold while the Supreme Court considers whether a controversial drug used in lethal injection cocktails is too cruel to use. With nitrogen gas, the state now has three other alternatives.

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin on Friday signed a bill that will allow the state to execute convicts using nitrogen if lethal injection is ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

The bill signed on Friday gives the state three alternatives to lethal injection as it awaits the high court's decision.

"Oklahoma executes murderers whose crimes are especially heinous," Fallin said in a statement. "I support that policy, and I believe capital punishment must be performed effectively and without cruelty."

The Supreme Court in January ordered the state to postpone executions until it considered the use of midazolam in executions, a sedative that has been linked with problematic executions in Oklahoma, Arizona, and Ohio.

A decision is expected sometime in June.

The bill signed by Fallin on Friday would make nitrogen gas the execution alternative if lethal injection is ruled unconstitutional, according to the governor's statement.

The state also has two more options if nitrogen is unavailable — use of the electric chair and firing squad.

"The bill I signed today gives the state of Oklahoma another death penalty option that meets the standard," Fallin said.

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