The recent execution of death row inmate Kenneth Smith in Alabama using nitrogen gas has garnered significant controversy and criticism. The White House expressed deep concerns over the matter, while the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights stated that this execution method may amount to torture. Alabama officials, however, have stood by their decision to utilize nitrogen gas.
Smith's execution marked the first time this method had been used in the United States. The state's Attorney General defended the execution, stating that nitrogen hypoxia has now been proven as an effective method and that more such executions are likely to follow in Alabama.
Reports from witnesses present during the execution provide troubling details. Smith appeared conscious for several minutes and displayed physical distress, shaking and writhing on the gurney for about two minutes before experiencing deep breaths. Eventually, his breathing slowed until it became imperceptible to media witnesses.
Opponents of the execution argue that it constituted cruel and unusual punishment, in violation of the Eighth Amendment, which protects Americans from such treatment. The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights specifically questioned whether Smith's execution amounted to torture, citing the extreme mental and physical assault experienced by the inmate.
Sister Helen Prejean, who has worked with death row inmates for decades, expressed her belief that Smith's execution was a form of torture. She emphasized that individuals on death row are conscious and imaginative beings who anticipate their impending execution, and that the current method allows for experimentation with different execution methods.
Prejean also shed light on the emotional toll on those involved in carrying out executions. She shared the story of a guard who experienced deep personal conflict about participating in executions, feeling responsible for the deaths of defenseless individuals.
Critics of the death penalty argue that it fails to serve as a deterrent and does not contribute to healing for victims' families. In fact, the death penalty often creates divisions among these families as some support it while others oppose it. Prejean highlighted the average wait time for a victim's family, which spans 17 years from sentencing to execution.
It is clear that the execution of Kenneth Smith using nitrogen gas has reignited the debate on the constitutionality and morality of the death penalty. Questions regarding the effectiveness of capital punishment in preventing violence and promoting justice persist, as advocates and opponents clash over the future of this controversial practice.
