Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor:
There is currently a bill in the Nebraska Legislature to incorporate nitrogen hypoxia as a method of execution of death row prisoners in the state.
Our state senator, Loren Lippincott, introduced the bill and has been promoting it in print and in public. Kenneth Smith of Alabama was recently the first death row inmate to die by this method. Proponents of the execution method would have you believe it is quick and painless and a preferable alternative to anything else currently being used. I encourage you to look up the comments of the man
who was Smith’s spiritual advisor during his time on death row in Alabama and was witness to his execution. 
The Rev. Jeff Hood describes the process as “the most horrible thing I think I’ve ever seen.” State of Alabama officials described the execution as textbook. Rev. Hood’s description refutes that
characterization completely and graphically. 
States want to use nitrogen hypoxia as an execution method because they are having trouble getting the
drugs that have been commonly used since execution by drugs was introduced. If you make the effort to find Rev. Hood’s description of the execution, I think you would agree with his horror at witnessing the event. 
I prefer to believe the word of a minister who was the man’s spiritual advisor over that of the officials
of the state of Alabama in this case.
Monte Burger,
Aurora

Letter to editor policy
The Aurora News-Register welcomes readers’ comments on any issue. Your letter to the editor must include the writer’s name, address and telephone number and must be signed in order to be published. Deadline to submit letters is noon Friday. Letters can be mailed to P.O. Box 70, e-mailed to newsregister@ hamilton.net or hand-delivered. Signatures will be verified. Letters are limited to approximately 300 words.