"Alabama's First Nitrogen Gas Execution Sparks Controversy and Sets Precedent for Capital Punishment"

Alabama death row inmate Kenneth Eugene Smith has been executed by nitrogen gas, becoming the first person in US history to be put to death through this method. Witnesses reported that Smith appeared conscious for several minutes, shaking and writhing on the gurney, despite authorities predicting unconsciousness within seconds and death in minutes. The White House condemned the execution, and the United Nations has raised concerns that the use of nitrogen gas for executions could constitute torture. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall stated that 43 more death row inmates have elected to die by nitrogen hypoxia, with Alabama, Oklahoma, and Mississippi being the only states to have approved the use of nitrogen gas for executions.