LETHAL INJECTION
"(The state) doesn't have the drugs to carry out lethal injection now and it's very very difficult for it to get the drugs."
- Dr. Eric Berger, UNL Law Professor and Lethal Injection Expert
Nebraska lacks the means to carry out an execution
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Nebraska currently has no supply or source of lethal injection drugs. Lethal injection became the sole method of execution in 2009 and has never been used.
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The state hasn't carried out an execution since 1997. Having an unenforceable death penalty on the books is a waste of taxpayer dollars and makes every death sentence an empty promise for victims' families.
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Nebraskans won't accept secrecy
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Every state that's currently able to carry out executions has some form of 'shield law' - which protects the anonymity of lethal injection drug suppliers. Department of corrections director Scott Frakes acknowledges that without such a law, it will be "very difficult" to use the death penalty in Nebraska.[1] In 2017, a 'shield law' bill was introduced in Nebraska but, received very little support because of Nebraskans' commitment to government transparency.
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The Nebraska department of corrections has attempted to purchase lethal injection drugs multiple times from an unauthorized supplier. [2] None of the drugs were ever able to be used. In 2016, the state requested a refund for a purchase that was not able to be delivered. The request was denied.[3]
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Further Reading:
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Buzzfeed - "This is the man in India who is selling states illegally imported execution drugs"
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Buzzfeed - "Nebraska bought 300 executions' worth of illegal execution drugs from a foreign supplier"
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1. Testimony to the Nebraska Judiciary Committee, February 9th, 2017
2. C. Matteson, "Maker of lethal injection drug wants it back," Lincoln Journal-Star November 29th, 2011 http://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/maker-of-lethal-injection-drug-wants-it-back/article_a127fa70-8d0f-5163-bfbb-e0690bbd3822.html
3. J. Dugan, "Broker denies Nebraska's $26,700 refund request over undelivered death penalty drug," Omaha World-Herald March 7th, 2016
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