Attorney General Jim Hood is calling for alternate means of execution, should lethal-injection drugs become unavailable or itself declared unconstitutional. These include nitrogen hypoxia, electrocution or a firing squad. Photo by Imani Khayyam.
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi House wants to allow the state prison system to execute prisoners using a firing squad if officials decide lethal injection is too expensive or unavailable.
The House amended Senate Bill 2237 Friday before passing it 80-39, sending it back to the Senate for more work.
The measure makes secret the names of prison employees at an execution and the pharmacy providing lethal drugs. It also makes secret the names of family members of the prisoner or crime victim. First Amendment advocates say that measure unconstitutionally restrains free speech.
Supporters say the measure protects those involved in executions from harassment by people who oppose the death penalty.
Attorney General Jim Hood has asked lawmakers to approve alternate execution methods including the firing squad, electrocution and the use of nitrogen gas.
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