Legislation to bring back the electric chair in Alabama if lethal injection is deemed unconstitutional or the ingredients aren't available passed in the House.

"The system we have today, we all know it is not working," bill sponsor Lynn Greer, R-Rogersville, said on the House floor Wednesday evening. "It may be working for the criminals, but it is not working for the victims. To me, this makes common sense."

Greer's bill passed the House 76-26 with an amendment from Mac McCutcheon, R-Huntsville, that would keep the manufacturers of lethal injection drugs confidential. The bill will now move on to the Senate for consideration.

Lethal injection replaced the electric chair in 2002 because legislators thought it was more humane, but since then there have been questions about the lethal injection ingredients and their handling.

Rep. Jimmy Martin, R-Clanton, said he served as the coroner in Chilton County for 36 years and spoke in support of the bill.

Alabama's long-retired electric chair, Yellow Mama. (Dave Martin/Associated Press)

"I am backing you 100 percent because I think we have done enough to protect the people on death row, and I think we should start protecting those who walk across the streets of this state," he said.

Several Democrat lawmakers spoke against the death penalty and questioned Greer about the need for his bill.

Rep. Darrio Melton, D-Selma, said the bill isn't necessary because lethal injection hasn't been ruled unconstitutional.

The death penalty is "something we should not be dealing with," said Rep. Barbara Boyd, D-Anniston.

Boyd said she had to speak her conscience. She admitted Republican lawmakers have the votes to pass the bill.

Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, spoke against the bill, saying it would do absolutely nothing to speed up the execution process.