Death Penalty States Face Hurdles in Carrying Out Executions

The Supreme Court ruled a controversial drug to be used for lethal injections in Oklahoma, however death-penalty states are finding it harder to carry out executions as they struggle to obtain and properly use limited supplies of ever-changing combinations of lethal injection drugs.

Executions in some states have been postponed where others states are buying the lethal drug overseas. The FDA states importing this drug is illegal and over time lethal injection has become more chaotic. In states such as Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Louisiana, when lethal-injection drugs were unavailable the states were approved to use other methods. This includes firing squads, nitrogen gas, and the electric chair. Thirty-one states are death penalty states.

This story is noteworthy is various aspects. The lead is effective yet a bit lengthy. The audience are people throughout the United States, especially those who reside in one of the thirty-one death penalty states. The use of illegal drugs to execute an offender does not seem like justice. I think this story is very powerful in the sense that the states are using whatever method they choose to carry out an execution. Legislation varies state to state, and Nebraska for example, is trying to abolish capital punishment. It will be interesting to read more about this topic as times goes on and more information is released.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/09/us/death-penalty-lethal-injection.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=first-column-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0 

1 Comment

  1. fuglsang

    The story uses the word “improvise” to describe what states are doing. That doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence. The reason why states can’t get the drugs is because the company that makes them does not want to be associated with execustions.

    You might notice most of this story is summary of what is happening across the nation. The value of this story — and what the NYT does a lot — is bring together a lot of information in one place.

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