Posted on 05/17/2014 7:07:08 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
In the wake of a botched lethal injection in Oklahoma last month, a Utah lawmaker says he believes a firing squad is a more humane form of execution. And he plans to bring back that option for criminals sentenced to death in his state.
Rep. Paul Ray, a Republican from the northern Utah city of Clearfield, plans to introduce his proposal during Utah's next legislative session in January. Lawmakers in Wyoming and Missouri floated similar ideas this year, but both efforts stalled. Ray, however, may succeed. Utah already has a tradition of execution by firing squad, with five police officers using .30-caliber Winchester rifles to execute Ronnie Lee Gardner in 2010, the last execution by rifle to be held in the state.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Remember, after a lengthy absence of the use of capital punishment, Gary Gilmore was the first executed, and he requested firing squad.
Note also, that Utah is a largely Mormon state. My understanding, accepting clarification from LDS members, is that redemption from sin can come in the shedding of one’s own blood. unlike lethal injection or hanging, firing squad meets the criteria. Hence, it is a preferred method for Mormons, of which Gilmore was one.
Great idea! Just make sure the execution weapons are referred to as “Assault Weapons”, just so leftist’s heads will expload.
A bullet to the heart or head of the convicted murderer is so quick that the the left would be hard put to push the suffering aspect of the murderer and other monsters as the left always does here in America.
The left loves murderers and other haters and knows that the large majority of criminals are potential democrat voters in todays fallen American government obamanation regime.
I am not so sure. Under Obama care, the odds are, they might die sooner anyway, so it might be humane after all.
Why not get real political here, let Utah Tea Party militias make up the firing squads!!
That's nice and all, but it's not about what THEY want.
Better idea:
Consider all death row inmates military veterans with their health care provided by the VA. The convicted inmates will end up dying before their appeals are up.
(Murat's last words as he was allowed to give the command for his own execution)
I would rather bring back hanging. To me it has more of an element of punishment. Especially if it’s done right, without breaking the neck. A long painful strangle.
I just heard that this past week. There was another story that the reason he chose the firing squad over hanging, was the firing squad cost more.
That being said, my understanding of Mormon Doctrine on repentance follows the traditional view that only God can forgive but adds the twist that man, the sinner, needs to make some effort beyond merely asking for forgiveness. That effort includes restitution. i.e., If you steal, you return what is stolen. If you vandalize, you repair the results of your vandalism and restore it to how it was before.
In the case of murder, since you cannot restore a life, the next best thing is to allow your own blood to be shed in restitution. The Mormons, having been pushed around so much and driven from place to place like my Native American ancestors, had no desire to impose their own theology on those not of their faith when the territory was organized, passed into law the choice of hanging, which was the prevailing method of capital punishment at the time, or firing squad, which was the preferred method for Mormons.
I was living in the Mormon belt (Idaho, actually) at the time of the Gilmore execution and can tell you that, while he was raised by a Mormon relative, he had no association with the faith at the time of his crimes or execution. Indeed, he hated Mormons and sought them out for his murder victims.
I'm not sure what went on in his mind in the months leading up to his execution. It was a very lengthy process since the Supreme Court had effectively outlawed capital punishment and Gilmore's lawyers had a lengthy legal battle to carry out his wishes. But it is possible and even likely that Gilmore was somewhat remorseful and selected the firing squad as a way to express that remorse.
Those who were not generally selected hanging when they were told that it cost the state more to carry out.
Firing squad is unnecessary. Shotgun blast at close range to the back of the head. Instant death.
Barbaric.
Guillotine ... it’s the only way to be sure.
And one size fits all, even federal operatives.
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