Legislation that would expand the methods Louisiana can use to carry out a death sentence has received final legislative passage. The Louisiana Senate approved the bill that would allow the state to use the electric chair or nitrogen gas to end a death row inmate’s life. New Orleans Senator Royce Duplessis voted against the proposal.
“I want to speak on behalf of many in my community and many in our communities who believe that this method in particular of using lethal gas is just unacceptable,” said Duplessis.
Religious arguments were also made against the bill. New Orleans Senator Gary Carter says the legislation is unconstitutional because the death penalty is applied in a discriminatory way.
“If it’s an African-American accused of killing a white person that person is exceptionally more likely to get the death penalty that is unconstitutional that is cruel that is unusual, I urge you all to vote against this,” said Carter.
The last execution in Louisiana was in 2010 as the state can not obtain the drugs needed to carry out a lethal injection. This bill requires that lethal injection records must be sealed. This will give the drug companies who make the chemicals needed for a lethal injection more confidence to supply the necessary drugs.
Turkey Creek Senator Heather Cloud says the death penalty is already legal and this legislation gives the state the tools to resume executions.
“It’s worst of the worst consequence for the worst of the worst kind, it’s not an easy vote, but it’s necessary for me to cast this vote,” said Cloud.
Right before the vote, Port Allen Senator Caleb Kleinpeter recognized the families of victims of death penalty cases who were watching from the Senate Gallery with Governor Jeff Landry.
“Today we can honor these families and remove the hurdles so that justice can be served for the victims,” said Kleinpeter.
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