A Senate bill aiming to ban gassing failed to progress despite opposition from Jews Against Gassing. Louisiana legalized nitrogen hypoxia as an alternative method of capital punishment earlier in 2024. This move comes as lethal injection faces obstacles due to several drug manufacturers refusing participation, following a series of problematic deaths in states like Alabama and Oklahoma.
Members of the Jewish community were shocked after the House Governmental Affairs denied a bill to remove gassing as a form of execution in Louisiana. Jacquelyn Stern with Jews Against Gassing expressed that it seemed as though the committee completely ignored their testimony.
Stern said, "There were people in our community who, I believe, did an excellent job testifying, but it felt as though nobody was really a part of what we were trying to say and wasn't listening."
With the bill passing in the Senate, Stern was hopeful House members would also have the opportunity to hear the legislation, but in a 22-16 vote, the committee failed to advance the bill.
Testimony against the bill included John Sinquefield with the State Attorney General’s Office, who argued that the use of nitrogen hypoxia is not comparable to the poisonous gas used during the Holocaust. But Stern argues that he completely missed the point…
While there are an estimated 60 people on death row in Louisiana currently, the state has not executed anyone since 2010 by lethal injection.
During the crime session, Governor Jeff Landry advocated for different methods to carry out executions, including the use of nitrogen hypoxia.
Stern says she and other members of Jews Against Gassing plan to continue to fight for their cause, even though requests to meet with the governor have been ignored.
Stern continues, "And we never even got a response about that, and it feels like the door was already shut, the decision was made a long time ago without our testament."
In addition to Louisiana, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Mississippi have approved the use of nitrogen hypoxia for executions moving forward.
