With lethal injections on hold, Oklahoma is considering gassing death-row inmates

Oklahoma is looking for alternative death penalty methods — (Image credit: iStoick)

The Supreme Court has halted Oklahoma's use of the death penalty while it reviews the state's controversial lethal-injection cocktail, particularly the sedative midazolam. So the Oklahoma legislature is debating another method of execution: Nitrogen gas. Using "nitrogen hypoxia" as a backup method of capital punishment is "a lot more practical" and "efficient," argues state Rep. Mike Christian (R), according to The Associated Press. "You wouldn’t need a medical doctor to do it."

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.