One-Third of Americans Support Second Execution Attempt After Botched Procedure, Poll Finds

One-third of Americans believe the government should attempt a second execution if the initial attempt fails, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted after a botched lethal injection in Tennessee. The poll, which surveyed Americans over four days, also found that 39% of respondents favored allowing inmates to serve life in prison following a failed execution, while 26% remained undecided.

The survey comes after the case of Christa Pike, 50, who survived two lethal injection attempts last month in Nashville. Pike, who is on death row for a murder conviction, was taken to a hospital in critical condition after the procedure. She reportedly did not regain consciousness for five days.

This incident highlights ongoing debates surrounding capital punishment, particularly in states that still practice it. Many countries and a majority of U.S. states have abolished the death penalty. For those that retain it, obtaining lethal injection drugs has become increasingly difficult, leading some states to consider alternative methods like firing squads.

Overall support for capital punishment remains a majority view, with 55% of Americans favoring it for the most serious crimes. However, this figure has decreased from 63% in a 2017 Reuters/Ipsos poll. Currently, 31% of respondents oppose the death penalty, and 13% did not offer an opinion.

The issue of retrying executions after a failed attempt is gaining legal traction. The U.S. Supreme Court has recently permitted states to schedule a second execution date following a failed attempt. This follows the case of Kenneth Smith, convicted of a 1988 murder-for-hire, who survived an execution attempt in Alabama in 2022 due to issues with intravenous line setup. Alabama successfully executed Smith in 2024 using nitrogen gas, a novel method.

Separately, the idea of livestreaming executions has also sparked debate. A proposal to livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan, the former Army major convicted in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting, by firing squad was ultimately canceled by President Donald Trump amid widespread criticism, despite officials intending to proceed with the execution on December 3. The poll indicated that while 46% of Americans found execution by firing squad appropriate for Hasan, a larger majority, 71%, believed that showing executions on television or the internet was inappropriate.