State Has Lethal Injection Alternatives

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Oklahoma attorney general's office will be watching closely as the U.S. Supreme Court considers whether lethal injections are constitutional. The court has agreed to take

Wednesday, September 26th 2007, 9:40 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Oklahoma attorney general's office will be watching closely as the U.S. Supreme Court considers whether lethal injections are constitutional. The court has agreed to take up a case from Kentucky in which two death row inmates claim lethal injections are unconstitutionally cruel and unusual punishment.

Oklahoma was the first state in the nation to adopt lethal injection for executing inmates and Attorney General Drew Edmondson spokeswoman Emily Lang says the state uses the same chemicals as Kentucky.

The procedure involves injecting the condemned inmate with a barbiturate to cause unconsciousness then drugs to stop breathing and the heart.

If lethal injection is ruled unconstitutional Oklahoma statute allows inmates to be put to death by electrocution.

If electrocution is found unconstitutional the condemned will be put to death by firing squad.