USA - Mississippi. Judiciary Committee passed HB 638 to add firing squad, electrocution and nitrogen gassing

Judiciary B Committee passed HB 638 to add firing squad, electrocution and nitrogen gassing as execution methods in case a court blocks the use of lethal injection drugs. The bill’s sponsor is Representative Andy Gipson’s (R-Braxton). His legislation would set up a list of replacement methods for execution should the state find any single one unconstitutional. In order, Gipson’s preference is lethal injection, followed by nitrogen hypoxia, firing squad and then the electric chair. Mississippi hasn’t been able to acquire the execution drugs it once used, and it last carried out an execution in 2012. The state has 47 people on death row.