Posted on 03/10/2015 11:00:57 PM PDT by Citizen Zed
Lawmakers in Utah voted last night to bring back executions by firing squad if lethal injections are unavailable, which would make it the only state in the country to permit the practice.
Utah used firing squads for decades before adopting lethal injections in 2004. The Republican-sponsored bill, which passed the state Senate by 18-10, was introduced amid national concerns about the efficacy of lethal injections.
The measure, approved last month by the Utah House of Representatives, says a firing squad should be used if "the state is unable to lawfully obtain the substance or substances necessary to conduct an execution by lethal intravenous injection 30 or more days" before the date set for the procedure.
Several U.S. states have had to search for new drugs for their lethal injection cocktails after many pharmaceutical companies, mostly in Europe, imposed sales bans about four years ago because they objected to having medications made for other purposes being used in executions.
Supporters of the legislation said three states - Oklahoma, Ohio and Arizona - recently carried out lethal injections that led to inmates' physical distress and drawn-out deaths, and that death by firing squad was more humane.
Republican state Representative Paul Ray of Clearfield, the bill's sponsor, said someone executed by gunfire typically dies in three to five seconds. "It's a quick bleed-out," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesofmalta.com ...
Good for them! Keep it simple.
CO2 is what makes drowning so traumatic. They should simply have the condemned breathe 100% nitrogen. You just slip into unconsciousness from lack of oxygen.
How about 5 minutes of suffering through a Taylor Swift concert? OK Ok I know that’s pretty cruel and inhuman after all we are civilized and not sickos like ISIS. Yes stick with a firing squad.
How about ‘The Complete Works of Maya Angelou’ on Audio Books?
There’s something in the Mormon religion that calls for ‘the spilling of blood’ to atone for the crime of murder and that’s why Utah used to have the choice of a firing squad. I wasn’t aware that they had ever gotten rid of it.
I think they dumped it right after the last public execution of (IIRC) Gary Gilmore when the so called marksmen flubbed the shot and they had to reload and go again.
Procedure says, one of the rifles is loaded with a blank and thus nobody is "supposed" to know which weapon failed to fire a lethal shot. Which is utter BS because any rifleman worthy of the title will know the instant it caps off by the total lack of recoil and a less loud report (muted muzzle blast) that no round exited that barrel.
They pin a small heart shaped target over the man's actual heart to act as a sight picture. The man is usually strapped into a chair, I think or tied to a pole. Forget which. But if I had to choose, that's the way I'd prefer to go out. Providing the shooters are competent, of course.
Love it! Where do I sign up for duty?
Stop talking like that or I’ll post that pic of Helen.... You’ve been warned.
...and if the convict survives until the end he is set free.
Odd that the exact same drugs that are cruel and unusual for executions are perfectly A-OK for assisted suicide...
Lethal injection simply takes too long and adds many variables not the least of which is establishing and maintaining an IV line. Nitrogen asphyxiation could be a good alternative, but would have to run the gauntlet of legal challenges before it could be used. A firing squad is a reasonable alternative if competent marksmen are used.
I wonder if these same companies make the drugs for veterinary euthanasia. If a drug mixture is considered humane for the purpose of putting down an animal, then how is it cruel when used to put down a human murderer?
“...and if the convict survives until the end he is set free.”
I’m ok with use of a firing squad for execution. But, historically, the problem has been with the shooters. Out of the twelve or so shooters, whether intentionally or not, often only a few would hit the target leaving the target
A slow death. So, I think some sound vetting needs to take place when selecting the firing squad members.
Seems the sensible way would be just two shooters at short range with M-16 rifles.
I’ve read of a few decapitations due to botched hangings.
There is a science to that “art”.
N2 (pure nitrogen) is better than CO2 as CO2 produces the panic “I can’t breath” effect in humans.
I seem to remember one time Utah used the firing squad and only one of the 6 or so shooters had live ammo as compared to the blanks in the others. The rifles were loaded by officials and no shooter knew who shot the fatal bullet.
They should all have live ammo, surely at least one will hit the heart.
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