https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13008191/Kenneth-Eugene-Smith-nitrogen-executed-first.html

Wife of killer Kenneth Eugene Smith ‘cried out’ during his historic 22-minute-long nitrogen execution – which witness described as ‘horrific’ as he thrashed and ‘convulsed’ on gurney

•     The convicted killer, 58, had a gas mask placed over his face before a stream of 100 percent nitrogen gas suffocated him  
•     Smith’s pastor told DailyMail.com beforehand he was ‘really struggling’, and ate only a small part of his final meal of steak, hashbrowns and eggs  
•     He was sentenced to death in 1996 over the murder-for-hire slaying of a pastor’s wife eight years prior  

By Will Potter and Neirin Gray Desai In Atmore, Alabama, For Dailymail.Com
Published: 21:35 EST, 25 January 2024 | Updated: 07:37 EST, 26 January 2024 

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The wife of Kenneth Eugene Smith cried out for her killer husband as he thrashed against his restraints, suffering as he became the first person in history to be executed via nitrogen hypoxia. 

Smith, 58, was put to death Thursday in a ‘horrific’ 22-minute ordeal when a gas mask was placed over his face, before a stream of 100 percent nitrogen gas suffocated him inside the execution chamber at the William C. Holman prison in Atmore, Alabama. 

The murderer’s spiritual guide, Jeff Hood, described the execution as the ‘worst thing’ he had ever seen, claiming prison officials gasped in shock as he died far slower than anticipated.

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As a pro-life little L libertarian, I find this horrifying.

The Gooferment should never EVER be allowed to kill people.  How can we differentiate between those that MIGHT ‘deserve it” and those who the Gooferment deems do “deserve it” because of their opinions, life style, or religion.

On a philosophical or moral level, the Gooferment can NOT be trusted with this “power”.

As a practical matter, the only time that it should have this power is when a convict is to dangerous to the prison guards.  Then, and only then, should the Gooferment be able to seek permission from a jury.

Think Hanible Lector or a convict who kills a prison guard or another inmate.  Maybe even a convict who assaults or rapes might deserve this “eternal reward”.

Now consider the manner of death in this specific instance of “nitrogen suffocation”,  Can anyone truthfully say this is not “cruel and unusual punishment” that is prohibited by Constitutional Amendment?  Shame on us for allowing it.

As reprehensible as Smith was, we as a society should be ashamed.

IMHO

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