21st century and Utah is still killing people with firing squads.
There was a huge kerfuffle about it here when it happened. We had a law on the books that allowed it and the dude insisted on it, ostensibly for religious reasons. I can’t remember if we took the law off the books or not, but I hope we did. While nobody else knows who fired the killing shots, the people who did it know. If they’re the type that wants to kill, then I don’t want to give them the pleasure. If they’re not, I don’t want to make those people live with a violent death on their conscience. It’s fucked up, just like executions in general.
EDIT: Execution by firing squad had been removed in 2004, but anyone sentenced before then had it as an option. Gardner was grandfathered in.
Based on what I’ve read it seems like a firing squad is actually more humane than using drugs
True.
Although I wonder if it creates jailers who have to work extra hard to dehumanize people. So that’s probably not great.
Honestly more surprised it was a firing squad in 2010
States are having a hard time getting access to lethal injection drugs. Also having a hard time finding qualified people to do the injections properly.
IIRC they reauthorised firing squads was due to the effective nature and readily available qualified personnel.
Sounds like a pretty good way to go to be honest. It’ll all be over in seconds instead of the minutes to hours of lethal injection.
Only if the firing squad don’t fuck up.
Look up what happens when the injections fuck up.
No, I don’t think I shall
