The recent execution of a death row inmate has reignited debate on capital punishment. Alabama executed convicted murderer Kenneth Smith by nitrogen hypoxia on Jan. 25—a first in the country.
Robin Maher, the executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, told NTD that a series of botched lethal injections led to many drug companies halting supplies of their products for use in such situations. Some states then began researching alternative methods of execution. However, many opposed to the form of execution applied in Mr. Smith’s case say it was not humane.
