this post was submitted on 22 Dec 2023
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A federal judge who is weighing whether to allow the nation’s first execution by nitrogen hypoxia to go forward next month, urged Alabama on Thursday to change procedures so the inmate can pray and say his final words before the gas mask is placed on his face.

U.S. District Judge R. Austin Huffaker made the suggestion in a court order setting a Dec. 29 deadline to submit information before he rules on the inmate’s request to block the execution. The judge made similar comments the day prior at the conclusion of a court hearing.

Alabama is scheduled to execute Kenneth Eugene Smith on Jan. 25 in what would be the nation’s first execution using nitrogen gas. Nitrogen hypoxia is authorized as an execution method in Alabama, Mississippi and Oklahoma but has never been used to put an inmate to death.

The proposed execution method would use a gas mask, placed over Smith’s nose and mouth, to replace breathable air with nitrogen, causing Smith to die from lack of oxygen.

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[–] yesman@lemmy.world 69 points 9 months ago (15 children)

I think public executions where the prisoner is tortured to death are more progressive than supposed "humane" methods.

Not because I like cruelty or think they deserve it, but I want the State to do it's killing out in the open where citizens are exposed to what's happening in their name. Hiding the act behind closed doors and beneath a cloak of "humane" methods allows the State to exercise ultimate authority in secret from the people from whom that authority is derived. It's the State and the supporters of the death penalty that are being spared pain.

Yes, I got this from Foucault.

[–] Crack0n7uesday@lemmy.world 67 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (3 children)

You highly overestimate the amount of compassion the average person has. If you torture people to death in public people will sell tickets for the best seats. The Romans built a whole damn arena for this purpose.

[–] jwt@programming.dev 11 points 9 months ago

If anything, I think it would normalize killing (even more). But I guess I get where OP is coming from: Governments shouldn't get away with killing a human by claiming it's a humane act.

[–] yesman@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago

Yes! you're correct. It will be spectacle and celebration. We may revel in our cruelty, but we cannot feign mercy.

The question of capital punishment comes into focus. I don't trust in compassion; I'm advocating for honesty.

[–] CleoTheWizard@lemmy.world -2 points 9 months ago (5 children)

I can’t tell if you’re joking or if you think people have the same morals as someone from the roman history

[–] wolfshadowheart@slrpnk.net 16 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Have you seen the state of the world lately? I'm surprised we don't have the football stadiums converted once a year for this

[–] psmgx@lemmy.world 1 points 9 months ago
[–] CleoTheWizard@lemmy.world -2 points 9 months ago

The job of corporations and media and politics is to divide people. And even more so it will make you think your neighbor is a savage. It keeps people alone and independent workers to exploit. When in reality, your neighbors are average people that aren’t bloodthirsty. Most people can hardly handle their own lives and are depressed enough as it is without having a sporting event dedicated to killing people. I didn’t realize how well this propaganda type stuff works but clearly it does.

[–] pixeltree@lemmy.blahaj.zone 9 points 9 months ago (1 children)

gestures around at the lack of empathy tons of people are all proud to display

[–] Goferking0@ttrpg.network 5 points 9 months ago

points at all the anger when making violent sports safer or pointing out the long term damage cause

[–] set_secret@lemmy.world 4 points 9 months ago

Honestly I think you'll find they're not aa different as you wish they were. people are as cruel today as they've ever been.

[–] Timecircleline@sh.itjust.works 3 points 9 months ago

It's easy to forget, but we have the same brains as back then. Societal values may have changed, but there will be those with a sick fascination who want to see. When the bath school massacre happened (1920s I think?) People took home souvenirs.

[–] kromem@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Tell me you've never watched a Republican primary debate without telling me.

Nearly every election cycle there's at least one debate where the death penalty comes up and you have governors competing with each other over body counts to an audience cheering them on.

[–] CleoTheWizard@lemmy.world 0 points 9 months ago (1 children)

None of what you said represents average people

[–] kromem@lemmy.world 6 points 9 months ago

I suspect you overestimate the average person.

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