Oklahoma Becomes First State To Allow Gassing Of Prisoners On Death Row

Oklahoma is the first state to approve gassing prisoners with nitrogen in order to carry out death penalty sentences. The state’s Republican Governor Mary Fallin, signed the Oklahoma gassing capital punishment bill into law on Monday.

The death penalty sentence option was reportedly approved as an alternative to the use of lethal injections. Oklahoma lawmakers who supported the gassing of prisoners legislation reportedly felt such a law was necessary because lethal injections “carry the risk of not working” and can prolong the death of the prisoner. Concerns that a court order pertaining to the drugs used in lethal injections could prompt a shortage of the shots, also reportedly played a role in the Oklahoma gassing prisoners decision. Click here to read more about Oklahoma gassing prisoners.