More Executions Are Happening Again

Four men are set to be executed in the US this week—in Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, and possibly Oklahoma. That’s a lot for one week, and it shows how fast executions are picking up again. So far this year, 19 people have already been put to death. If these four go through, and two more happen later this month, the US will have carried out 25 executions in just six months. That’s as many as all of last year.

The rise in executions is mostly happening in Republican-led states. Many of these states are pushing hard to bring back and speed up the death penalty, especially after Donald Trump’s recent orders. But civil rights groups are worried, especially since past executions in these states have gone wrong or been called unfair.

Alabama and Florida Going Ahead on Tuesday

Alabama plans to execute Gregory Hunt using nitrogen gas. This method is still new and doesn’t seem fully tested. When Alabama used it last time, it took 22 minutes for the person to die, and people who watched said his body shook violently. It didn’t look peaceful at all.

Florida is also planning an execution the same day. Anthony Wainwright will be put to death by lethal injection. Florida has already executed five people this year and is on track for the most in the country. Governor Ron DeSantis is very supportive of the death penalty and has pushed to make it easier to use.

Florida is also the only state using a drug called etomidate for executions—even though the people who made the drug said it should never be used this way. Back in 2018, a man given this drug during execution screamed and shook on the table before he died.

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Oklahoma Case Still Uncertain

In Oklahoma, John Hanson was supposed to be executed this Thursday. But just this week, a judge put a stop to it. Still, the state’s attorney general is fighting the ruling and wants to go ahead anyway. Officials say they’re continuing with preparation in case the judge’s decision is overturned.

What makes Hanson’s case more complicated is that he was serving a life sentence in a federal prison. In 2022, Oklahoma asked to transfer him for execution, but the Biden administration said no. Now, under pressure from Trump’s orders, the transfer was approved earlier this year.

South Carolina’s Turn on Friday

The last execution this week is planned for Friday in South Carolina. Stephen Stanko is scheduled to die by lethal injection. The state recently restarted executions and now lets prisoners choose between the electric chair, firing squad, or injection.

But even that has raised concerns. Some lawyers say the lethal injections are slow and painful, like drowning. And the last time South Carolina used a firing squad, it didn’t go smoothly either. These methods are being questioned, but the state has made it hard to know who supplies the drugs or how safe they are, thanks to new secrecy laws.

Public Still Divided

Even though more executions are happening, most Americans don’t strongly support the death penalty anymore. In fact, support is at its lowest in about 50 years. Only a few states are actually doing these executions, and most don’t seem eager to bring them back.

Before leaving office, President Joe Biden changed 37 federal death sentences to life in prison without parole. But now, some local prosecutors are trying to bring state-level cases against those same people to get them executed anyway. It’s a long shot legally, but the effort shows how political this issue has become.

Final Thoughts

The US is definitely seeing a return to more executions, and it’s happening fast. Some states are even using risky or painful methods. While leaders push for it, the public isn’t really asking for more of it. Whether you agree with the death penalty or not, this week is a big sign of where things are headed.