Firing squad: An eyewitness account of Gardner's execution

Salt Lake Tribune ^ | 6/18/2010 | Nate Carlisle

[China Clipper]

Excellent visual aid. However, I can't imagine too much deflection at that distance and with that kind of a round.

This picture and the one of the back of the chair make PERFECT sense when they are put together.

[markomalley]

However, I can't imagine too much deflection at that distance and with that kind of a round.

I would agree. High velocity jacketed rounds, I would imagine.

[Vendome]

I can see your point of view and wouldn’t argue against it.

Either way his just punishment was exacted

[Vendome]

I guess. It just seemed they not Oswald types but, I guess that could explain it.

Either way it’s done.

[Walkingfeather]

Once you sever the brainstem all motor function stops, breathing, etc you just drop to the ground like a sack of wet laundry.

[Vendome]

Hmmm.... I guess.

Still, if Still, they had done it my way with Saboted slugs there would be ONE GIANT hole.

But... He is done anyway.

[Vendome]

I too have not heard of an ineffective round.

[Vendome]

Well, that was quite descriptive.

[Vigilanteman]

Probably not. And I don't know if the load is gelitin or something else. But it is supposedly has mass close enough to the real thing so the person firing it can't feel the difference.

There's a certain skill level involved here. I've know lifetime cattleman who couldn't guess the weight of a calf to save their lives, but there are weekenders who work auctions who can look at a calf and come to within 1-2% of the actual weight every time. Same principle here. It isn't that the lifetime cattleman is dumb, it is just that the weekend auction worker has made the effort (and/or has the talent) to develop this particular skill.

[rogue yam]

Thank you for saying all of that. This murderer deserved what he got but we might all take such a moment as this to seek the answer to the biggest question of all; what has God told us to do?

[70th Division]

Yup! You back up my point.

[chesley]

Well, maybe for me, if I ever require execution, although I think a large caliber bullet to the brain would probably cause the least amount of pain.

But for the jerks who actually do get executed, short-rdrop hanging seems about right.

Yes, I think they should suffer a little.

[thefactor]

Coulda been echoes in the chamber mistaken for staggered shots.

[chesley]

Yes, but justice still requires that he pay the penalty for his crimes here on Earth.

Forgiveness, without penalty, is not the business of the government.

[thulldud]

As I see it, if you can't execute someone honestly and openly in the interests of justice, then maybe you shouldn't be executing people.

THAT — is as much as to say, we've got the wrong people in government.

Actually, I wouldn't argue with that.

[infowarrior]

Stories like this only provoke misplaced sympathy for the killers and, over the long haul, may undermine public support for judicial executions.

Which is why they are done in the first place...

the infowarrior

[calex59]

That would definitly be quicker although i would hate to be the janitor that had to mop up 10 pounds worth of former brain and skull matter from the back of the room

Actually if they used a .22 long rifle round with a gun that was stationary and strapped behind the person's head, there would be no clean up necessary and the person would die instantly, or at least he would be out cold while he died. The gun could be set off remotely.

[Bosco]

I don't know the details of the "ineffective round", but here's a story of its existence.

Notes From the Firing Squad: Just ‘Another Day at the Office’

[Jewbacca]

“A “gelatin” round would not have the same mass as a lead projectile, thus not the same recoil.”

You assume the fake round is the same size. You could also increase the charge.

The way it used to be done was to bolt the rifles on swivels, so there was no material recoil for any shooter. (It also makes for a more accurate shot, as you have no verticle range of motion.)

I would assume they would still do that. Maybe they forgot about it.

[Jewbacca]

“I’d go with a Diet Coke, but otherwise he made a good call.”

I don’t know why I am fascinated with final meals, but that’s the piece of information I dig for every time.