Allowing Additional Execution Methods (SB 11, HB 1119)

SB 11: Firing Squad, authored by Sen. Michael Young, Sen. Chris Garten, Sen. James Tomes
Status: Failed
HB 1119: Execution methods, authored by Rep. Jim Lucas
Status: Passed out of committee

These bills represent a disturbing and barbaric escalation of state power. Instead of shifting away from capital punishment, both bills would allow the state to execute people by firing squad under certain conditions. HB 1119 would also allow the use of nitrogen hypoxia – which causes suffocation. The United Nations says the method “will likely violate the prohibition on torture.”

Both bills would allow these violent execution methods to be implemented behind a veil of secrecy that would make it practically impossible to investigate mistakes, unsafe practices, or constitutional violations.
We oppose these bills because they are inhumane and push Indiana further down the path of expanding the death penalty — a cruel, irreversible practice that should be abolished.