1. United States
2. Ind.
3. Letter

I am writing to strongly oppose the passing of HB 1119. This bill represents a disturbing and barbaric escalation of state power. Instead of shifting away from capital punishment, this bill 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.” This bill 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.
I strongly oppose this bill because it is inhumane and pushes Indiana further down the path of expanding the death penalty — a cruel, irreversible practice that should be abolished.