In the House Criminal Justice Committee members failed to pass a bill to remove gassing as a form of execution. They heard from John Sinquefield with the AG’s office who spoke in opposition. He said nitrogen hypoxia differs from what was used during the Holocaust.
“Nitrogen Hypoxia is used as a method, very humane, in which you breathe only pure nitrogen. It should put you to sleep and put you to death,” said Sinquefield.
Aaron Bloch Director of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans spoke in favor of the bill because he said execution by gas is extremely triggering for the Jewish community.
“This gassing method evokes such strong emotions in some of our community members that it would be very hard for them to sit here in Louisiana and watch that occur in their name,” said Bloch.
Sinquefield said nitrogen is already a gas we breathe daily, and he said changing the law to remove the use of nitrogen hypoxia to carry out the death penalty executions is unwarranted.
“If it insulted the Holocaust, we’d all have to quit breathing, if nitrogen did. We all would. Five billion people would die,” said Sinquefield.
Former CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, Arnie Fielkow urged committing members to support the bill, because there are other methods of execution for death row inmates in Louisiana besides gassing.
“It is not only unnecessary but for survivors and all Jewish people brings back images of evil and horror which should never again see the light of day,” said Fielkow.
The bill failed in committee on a 3 to 8 vote and will not advance to the House floor.