The US is killing someone by firing squad for the 1st time in 15 years. Here's a look at the history

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

The US is killing someone by firing squad for the 1st time in 15 years. Here’s a look at the history

By GENE JOHNSON
Updated 10:35 AM EST, March 5, 2025

It was a punishment for mutiny in colonial times, a way to discourage desertion during the Civil War and a dose of frontier justice in the Old West. In modern times, some consider it a more humane alternative to lethal injection. The firing squad has a long and thorny history in the U.S.

South Carolina on Friday is scheduled to put the first person to death by firing squad in the U.S. in 15 years. Brad Sigmon, who was convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend’s parents in 2001, chose it over the two other methods in South Carolina — the electric chair and lethal injection.

Since 1608, at least 144 civilian prisoners have been executed by shooting in America, nearly all in Utah. Only three have occurred since 1977, when the use of capital punishment resumed after a 10-year pause. The first of those, Gary Gilmore, caused a media sensation in part because he waived his appeals and volunteered to be executed. When asked for his last words, Gilmore replied, “Let’s do it.”

Five states — Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Utah — authorize the use of firing squads in certain circumstances.

Here’s a look at the history behind the death penalty method.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/firing-squad-death-penalty-south-carolina-sigmon-05000e874b12bb67c00832c2230f42c8

[Joinfortmill]

1. Quicker, I think.

Here's some info.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/firing-squad-gas-chamber-how-long-executions-take-n329371

[LymphocyteLover]

3. by firing squad? I suppose if they hit the heart right off but seems like it could be painful

[LymphocyteLover]

2. why would you choose that method to be killed?

weird

[Eugene]

5. A firing squad is considered quicker and "more merciful" way to die compared to other methods.

Hanging has the risk of slow strangulation
or ripping the head off.

Botched electric chair executions have sometimes
set the condemned on fire.

A botched lethal injection can cause excruciating pain.

Some inmates have taken long times to die in a gas chamber.

The only quicker, more efficient death is the guillotine.
That method has bad optics and historical baggage.

Full disclosure: I don't believe in capital punishment.

[Phoenix61]

6. Apparently, the brain lives long enough to see

its head separate from its body.

[hlthe2b]

7. Lethal injection requires expertise and no one with any ethics whatsoever is likely to provide that expertise

so they choose really bad drug combos and fail to achieve the kind of vascular access that would make it fast and error-free (following sedation ----which authorities don't want to for fear of being accused of pandering to the condemned or some such nonsense). Should an issue arise, their substitute "staff" have zero clue how to resolve the problem quickly or to achieve vascular access in those with poor vasculature. As one that has that expertise, I can attest that I know NO ONE who would do this (certainly not myself). All this combined is why some of the more preferred barbiturate type drugs (e.g., Sodium Pentothal) were banned from export to the US by their European manufacturers and ultimately ended production. Multi-drug regimens are thus required and are not straightforward for those whom these prison officials designate to use.

I, too, am totally anti-death penalty (as I have been since my teens). That said, there are far less cruel ways to achieve a humane death. Honestly, though, I would hope we'd reserve these considerations, not for those condemned to execution (who can remain imprisoned), but for how we can best deal with those few among us whose terminal illnesses cannot be ameliorated by all the pain management we have avialable to offer and a horrible type of death is fast approaching.

[Walleye]

4. They love they guns.

Maybe we could sell tickets to firing squad executions to balance the budget.

[Paladin]

8. If faced with the options, I'd select a firing squad, without question.

I base that on my hunting experiences from years ago. I know just how rapidly and humanely a single accurately-placed bullet from a high-powered rifle can end the life of a sizable game animal like a deer---and a firing squad involves multiple shooters, guns and bullets.