BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — The Louisiana House of Representatives advanced a bill that would add new methods for the state to execute death row inmates. The electric chair and nitrogen hypoxia gas could be added to the tool kit and where the drugs come from could be hidden.

HB6 by Nicholas Muscarello, R-Hammond, has faced fierce debate on both sides of the argument for expanding execution methods. In recent years, bills have been brought to abolish the death penalty in the state, and found support of former Gov. John Bel Edwards in his final term. With a regime change there has been a drastic shift in focus. Gov. Jeff Landry promised on the campaign trail he would resume executions.

House debate brought up concerns about innocent people potentially being put to death. Louisiana has exonerated 11 people from its death row.

Louisiana legislature advances permitless concealed carry bill

“The problem is we are supposed to have a presumption of innocence, but for most of us, that presumption does not exist. We do not get the same due process, even though we might go through the process,” said state Rep. Edmond Jordan, D-Baton Rouge.

The last execution in the state was in 2010 and before that one had not taken place since 2002. Louisiana had been using lethal injection as the method of execution. The last time the state put someone to death by electrocution was in 1991. Muscarello, who brought a similar bill in 2019, said he wants to carry forward with the promise of execution for the families of the victims.

“We made a commitment to the victims’ families, one of them being a friend of mine named Wayne Guzzardo, whose daughter was brutally murdered. And he has sat patiently and endured a lot of pain,” Muscarello said.

Alabama became the first state to put someone to death by nitrogen hypoxia. It is a gas that is given to an inmate that suffocates them. There is a lawsuit filed in the state to prevent future executions with the gas as the Associated Press reports the gas potentially caused pain to the inmate who convulsed and it was not a quick death.

“So, reports said that the execution lasted over 20 minutes. He suffered. Do you think that’s cruel and unusual?” said state Rep. Matthew Willard, D-New Orleans.

Close

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

BRProud Daily News

There is also a component to the bill that would make it illegal to share the manufacturer and materials used for execution with the public. Companies have been hesitant to get involved in executions or provide drugs for them for fear of backlash.

The House voted to advance the bill with a vote of 71-29, with Democrats and Republicans voting on both sides of the issue. It now moves to the Senate for more debate.

Latest news

• LSU softball player Ali Newland named SEC player of the Week

• Ken Buck unveils resolution calling on Cabinet to remove Biden under 25th Amendment

• Don Henley tells court he never gave away drafts of ‘Hotel California’ lyrics

• Supreme Court grapples with Texas, Florida social media laws

• New York medical school announces free tuition for all students after $1B donation

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to BRProud.com.