White House ‘deeply troubled’ over execution of man using nitrogen gas in Alabama

The Hill ^ | 01/26/2024 | BRETT SAMUELS

[ChicagoConservative27]

The White House said Friday it was “deeply troubled” after Alabama executed a man using nitrogen gas in a first-of-its-kind capital punishment.

“The reports of Kenneth Smith and his death last night obviously is very troubling. It is very troubling to us as an administration, it is very troubling to us here at the White House,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters.

“The president has long said and has had deep deep concerns with how the death penalty is implemented and whether it is consistent … with our values,” she added.

Smith was put to death Thursday in Alabama night after breathing nitrogen gas through a face mask, causing oxygen deprivation. It was the first time the method had been used to execute an American prisoner.

[PGR88]

“One man, Giovanni Battista Bugatti, carried out 516 executions as the “Pope’s Executioner” between 1796 and 1865. The executioner used one of three methods: guillotine (after 1816), smashing the head with a mallet and cutting the throat of the condemned, or drawing and quartering.”

As always, this needs PERSPECTIVE to eliminate attempts at bias

This was during the period of the Papal States, when the Church controlled about 1/3 of what is present day Italy.

It amounts to about 7 executions a year - for things like rape, robbing and murdering pilgrims, etc....

Also look at what was common in other European nations and tradition at the time,

[silverleaf]

More intrusion into State powers to decide

[Neverlift]

“deeply troubled” after Alabama executed a man using nitrogen gas

Next time use fentanyl, they are OK with that.

[rovenstinez]

Another case, of the Federal Gov’t demanding STATES all submit to a Federal Gov’t. Why not just get rid of State Legislatures and Governors.

[frank ballenger]

Sorry to offend anyone. Modern day Catholic Popes emphasize avoiding the penalty.

In January 1999, Pope John Paul II, without changing Catholic teaching, appealed for a consensus to end the death penalty on the ground that it was “both cruel and unnecessary”. He said that criminal offenders should be offered “an incentive and help to change his or her behavior and be rehabilitated”.

---

Pope Benedict XVI (2011)
Together with the Synod members, I draw the attention of society’s leaders to the need to make every effort to eliminate the death penalty and to reform the penal system in a way that ensures respect for the prisoners’ human dignity.

---

Pope Francis (2013)
He stated that capital punishment is an offence “against the inviolability of life and the dignity of the human person, which contradicts God’s plan for man and society” and “does not render justice to the victims, but rather fosters vengeance”.

[RetiredTexasVet]

The only true part of that statement is “the White House is deeply troubled”.

[lightman]

White House not concerned about the condemned man’s crime of serving as murderer for hire.

[50sDad]

The laws against “cruel and unusual punishment” were written to prevent KEELHAULING (being dragged naked under a ships hull over barnacles, which the British navy did regularly) or being DRAWN AND QUARTERED (having your limbs tied stoutly to four departing horses until you were rent asunder.) If you told the Founders that “gently drifting off to sleep” was MEAN, they would have laughed in your face at your nievate and ignorance. The Founders favored a short fast drop or a firing squad on the public green to educate children that some crimes are so heinous the will get you the ultimate penalty. A mad dog needs to be put down.

[eyeamok]

Maybe they should take a different approach because this back and forth crap with lawsuits everywhere is getting tiresome.

FURLOUGH everyone one on DEATH ROW, Ship them to Delaware and DC with the promise that a DEAD OR ALIVE bounty is on their head should they ever return to the State.

[mak5]

Joe just can’t stay in his lane and keep out of state issues.

[itsahoot]

The idea that all the great minds in Medicine and Government can't seem to do with Billions of dollars what any veterinarian can accomplish with a couple two dollar injections.

I have been anesthetized several times(first time in 1942 when Mom dripped ether into a tea strainer for the Doc to painlessly set my broken arm) and can attest to the fact it is near instant and totally painless and I could have been dispatched in any number of ways while unconscious, so cut the cr@p and admits they don't want to execute anyone but Trump and his supporters.

🇺🇸MAGA🇺🇸

[FoxInSocks]

Unless he’s some sort of biologically abnormal specimen, he was dead right after he stopped holding his breath. The fact they waited around to officially provide a time of death doesn’t mean he was actually alive for that time.

Hooking him up to a cheap carbon dioxide monitoring device would be super simple, as well as a cardiac monitor to see when he stops breathing and when his heart actually stops.

And he’s the one who picked this method in the first place.

[Ikeon]

his thrashing was likely him Putting on a show and he was probably coached".

BINGO! we have a winner. Ive been part of many confined space teams. and worked with rescue squad members.

N2 is a silent killer. You pass out and crumple. no thrashing or panicking. you just DRT.. dead right there.

[Pearfect]

Americans deeply troubled by MURDERERS !!!

[jacknhoo]

Shoulda used fentanyl — Democrats and open borders RINOs would be toasting it.

[No name given]

Yes, sadly.

[No name given]

Which only shows how messed up they truly are.

[TChad]

If there’s such a thing as a “humane” execution, this is it. There is no gasping for breath, because the body continues to exhale carbon dioxide with every breath. However, the inhaled air contains no oxygen.

[Organic Panic]

Maybe they should decorate the execution chamber to look like a uterus

[Liaison]

Nah, they were upset that we’re not to be able to use the method first.