It’s long past time for California to abolish the death penalty

Executions in the United States have been carried out in deeply distressing ways in recent years. In January, Alabama executed Kenneth Smith by suffocating him using nitrogen gas, which isn’t even used to euthanize animals due to ethical concerns. This month, Missouri killed Brian Dorsey despite more than 70 correctional officers and members of the victim’s family advocating for clemency. Botched executions are routine, with individuals sometimes strapped to a gurney for hours.