Oklahoma governor signs bill allowing nitrogen in executions

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OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma became the first U.S. state to approve nitrogen gas for executions under a measure Gov. Mary Fallin signed into law Friday, which provides an alternative death penalty method if lethal injections aren't possible either because of a court ruling or a drug shortage.

Executions are on hold in Oklahoma while the U.S. Supreme Court considers whether the state's current three-drug method of lethal injection is constitutional. Supporters of the new law maintain nitrogen-induced hypoxia is a humane and painless method of execution that requires no medical expertise to perform. Read more...

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