Oklahoma proposes bringing back gas chambers, but with nitrogen

See some of the execution methods used in U.S. and elsewhere throughout history.

less A dwindling supply of the drugs used in the chemical cocktail that is administered in lethal injections is encouraging new ideas on executing people. Nitrogen gas is at the top of the list in Oklahoma and elsewhere in the country. A dwindling supply of the drugs used in the chemical cocktail that is administered in lethal injections is encouraging new ideas on executing people. Nitrogen gas is at the top of the list in Oklahoma and ... more Photo: Weegee(Arthur Fellig)/Internatio, Getty Images Photo: Weegee(Arthur Fellig)/Internatio, Getty Images Image 1 of / 20 Caption Close Oklahoma proposes bringing back gas chambers, but with nitrogen 1 / 20 Back to Gallery

Gassing people to death could soon become a thing if Oklahoma has its way, the Associated Press reports.

Tuesday, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee authorized "nitrogen hypoxia" via a unanimous vote. Oklahoma has been pushing this execution method in the wake of its lethal injection troubles.

Back in the spring of 2014, the state botched an execution of a convicted killer while using a new chemical cocktail in the injection process. Since then, executions in the state have been on hold while federal officials investigate.

Just like Texas, Oklahoma is reacting to the dwindling supply of deadly drugs used in lethal injections. Supporters of "nitrogen hypoxia" believe the process is more efficient and humane, citing that people have accidentally died from nitrogen without ever knowing it.

"It's even possible that death by nitrogen gas is mildly euphoric. Deep-sea divers exposed to an excess of nitrogen develop a narcosis, colorfully known as "raptures of the deep," similar to drunkenness or nitrous oxide inhalation," Slate's Tom McNichol noted.

See some of the ways capital punishment has been administered in the U.S. and beyond in the gallery above.