Posted on 12/14/2023 12:51:28 PM PST by Red Badger
Attorneys for the spiritual adviser of a soon-to-be executed inmate filed a lawsuit Wednesday alleging that the restrictions placed upon the adviser due to the method of execution are "hostile to religion."
Officials with the Alabama Department of Corrections instructed the Rev. Jeff Hood that it could be dangerous to his health when he stands by Kenneth Eugene Smith in the execution chamber, according to a report.
Smith is slated to be the first inmate in Alabama to be put to death via nitrogen gas, and Hood purportedly was asked to sign a waiver recognizing the risks that could arise if he were to be within 3 feet of Smith's gas mask, the complaint reads.
Nitrogen naturally makes up roughly 78% of the air that people inhale, but pure nitrogen inhaled at the right level will deprive the body of oxygen and kill a person in what experts believe to be a painless procedure.
"They’ve asked me to sign a waiver, which to me speaks to the fact that they’re already concerned that things could go wrong,” Hood said.
It is "highly unlikely event that the hose supplying breathing gas to the mask were to detach, an area of free-flowing nitrogen gas could result, creating a small area of risk [approximately two feet] from the outflow," the waiver sent to Hood purportedly read.
The restrictions placed upon Hood impede his ability to minister to Smith, Hood alleges.
Distance in particular would "deny a prisoner his chosen spiritual [adviser's] touch at the most critical juncture of his life: his death," Hood's lawyers said.
The United States Supreme Court has ruled that states must yield to the religious wishes of inmates scheduled for executions and allow pastors to pray with them and even touch them, the report noted.
Smith was sentenced to death for the 1988 murder-for-hire killing of Alabama native Elizabeth Sennett, according to the report.
Nitrogen is haram? Not kosher? Who knew?
Well heck, just plug in Yellow Mama again and be done with. Just like zapping bugs…
Hood has no business interfering with this execution. He’s just trying to delay things by this tomfoolery.
Can’t the minister wear an oxygen mask or cannula and have his oxygen levels monitored while he is in there?
>>”They’ve asked me to sign a waiver, which to me speaks to the fact that they’re already concerned that things could go wrong,” Hood said.
No, it just means that the state’s lawyers are doing their job. Nothing is preventing this pastor from signing the waiver.
there sure seem to be issues in recent years, with how the methods of execution are somehow cruel and unusual punishment.
If this is somehow inhumane with nitrogen gas, then go back to a firing squad, or hanging, or electric chair.
These Sophists can STFU.
No, you certainly can't.
Guillotine.
Quick, but a little messy.................
Hanging, Firing Squad, Guillotine,,, All have a long history of approval
Guillotine works.
Wrong.
God established the death penalty for certain crimes.
HE has no problem with governments appropriately administering it for justice.
Exactly.
They could use the electric chair, and then Rev. Hood could hold Smith’s hand if he wants to.
Well said.
Order it to stand farther away.
Burning at the stake usually works, lots of carbon emissions though.
Yeah ... just give these twats a couple of industrial "Inert Gas Safety" briefings. Experts are pretty sure, based on lots experience, what happens when inert gases displace oxygen.
put hood in a scuba mask and tank.
continue as planned.
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