Gas chamber

A gas chamber is a means of execution whereby a poisonous gas is introduced into a hermetically sealed chamber. When the condemned breathes this gas, death follows. Hydrogen cyanide, or more rarely carbon monoxide, are the typical agents.

USA

Gas chambers have been used for capital punishment in the United States in the past to execute criminals, especially convicted murderers. Five states (Wyoming, California, Maryland, Missouri, and Arizona) technically retain this method, but all allow lethal injection as an alternative. A federal court in California has declared this method of execution a "cruel and unusual punishment". In fact, it is highly unlikely that any of these states will ever again utilize the gas chamber, unless an inmate specifically requests to die by this method. The use of the gas chamber was also controversial because of the use of large chambers to kill millions in Nazi concentration camps. Most states have now switched to methods considered more humane by officials, such as lethal injection.

Related Topics:
Capital punishment - United States - Criminal - Murder - Wyoming - California - Maryland - Missouri - Arizona - Lethal injection - Cruel and unusual punishment - Nazi - Concentration camps

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The first person to be executed in the United States via gas chamber was Gee Jon, on February 8, 1924 in Nevada. The last person to be executed in the gas chamber was German national Walter LaGrand, whom Arizona executed on March 4, 1999.

Related Topics:
Gee Jon - February 8 - 1924 - Nevada - Walter LaGrand - Arizona - March 4 - 1999

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As with all judicially mandated executions in the United States, witnesses are present during the procedure. These include members of the media, citizen witnesses, prison/legal/spiritual staff, and certain family members.

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