Old and bloody tradition revived as Utah prepares firing squad

The Independent (UK) ^ | 23 May 2003 | Andrew Gumbel in Los Angeles

[Willie Green]

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.

Utah is getting ready to execute two convicted criminals by firing squad, an old and bloody means of execution that is likely to stir renewed debate about the cruelty of capital punishment in the United States.

The two men, a serial killer and a white supremacist who stabbed a fellow inmate in a vicious murder captured on videotape, are scheduled to die on consecutive nights at the end of next month.

Under Utah's laws, any prisoner sentenced to death has the right to choose between lethal injection - the preferred method of almost all US states that practise the death penalty - and a firing squad. The firing squad tradition is rooted in Mormon custom, which holds that blood must be shed for the crime of murder to be appropriately punished. Utah is the only US state to continue the practice, although it has done so just twice since capital punishment was reintroduced by the Supreme Court in 1976.

One of the men approaching their date with the executioner, Roberto Arguellos, a serial killer and rapist, has been begging the court system to put him to death for years. Not only does he want to die by firing squad, he says, but he wants to waive the right to have a hood over his head as it happens.

The other inmate, Troy Michael Kell, a white supremacist, has sworn, spat and wriggled his way through his various court hearings.

Both cases are problematic. A lawyer for Arguellos has filed a motion - against his will - for clemency on the grounds of mental deficiency. Kell, meanwhile, has filed an appeal for a stay of execution, which is likely to be granted.

The executions come just a month after the US State Department roundly condemned Cuba for executing a gang of ferry hijackers - they too were killed by firing squad.

The firing squads will be made up of police volunteers, who will remain anonymous.

[omega4412]

As in the chorus to "Kevin Barry" -

"Shoot me like an Irish soldier
Do not hang me like a dog..."

And the Israelis executed Eichmann by hanging.

[csvset]

The how tos of hanging

[wardaddy]

If I had to choose, I would choose standing up, facing a firing squad, no hood or blindfold, and I would want to be outside so I could see the sky.

Powderfinger bump!

[Rummyfan]

They still do decapitations every Friday in Riyadh, at the main public square and just after midday prayer. Some weeks, you can catch a double-header!

[pttttt]

It may be more humane if done right. If I was the guest of honor and had the choice, I'd pick it over hanging.

[Joe 6-pack]

"Some weeks, you can catch a double-header!"

Now, that's cruel and unusual PUN-ishment!

[mlmr]

We agree. Somehow putting people to sleep does not do justice to the violence and horror of their crimes and the finality of death penalty justice.

[Malsua]

Since the only way to get a death sentance(far as I can tell anyway) is to kill someone, why can't we force the person to be executed to get theirs the way they gave it. Only fitting.

About firing squads, the last one I heard about, only 2 of the 10 or so had live rounds. No one knew if it was their gun or not that did it to save any personal anguish.

I think old sparky is the best "fitting" as a general all around. You're eyeballs boil out and you're in intense pain for at least a few moments. This is the "teaser" for what is to come :)

-Mal

[Travis McGee]

But when the first shot hit the dock, I saw it coming.

Raised my rifle to my eye, never stopped to wonder why,

Then I saw black, and my face splashed in the sky....

....

Shelter me from the powder and the finger,

cover me with the thought that pulled the trigger.

Just think of me, as one you'd never figure,

would fade away so young,

so much left undone,

remember me to my love, I know I'll miss her.

.

(I'm sort of at the Powderfinger moment in the book right now in chapter 58.)

[wardaddy]

i can only imagine!

[johnb838]

Had to do a little google search for those last two :)

[johnb838]

Y'all ought to come on down to Texas. We have executions pretty much every week too. Unfortunately they're not public, but at least it is reported.

Sometimes they protest and that makes it all the more fun. Before Gary Graham rode the needle Qanal X and the New Black Panthers showed up with AKs. Then they tried to burn a flag but it was made of flame-retardant material and it wouldn't really burn, just sort of melted, gave off pollutants and dripped on the bastards' hands. It was a glorious scene and he died like the punk that he was. Now his son is on death row too. The acorn doesn't fall far from the tree and all that...

[Doctor Stochastic]

Actually, that was Black Jack Ketchum whose head popped off during the hanging. (At least as I remember.)

[Doctor Stochastic]

An Old Testament endorsement?

[Travis McGee]

I'll finish 58 tonight, and smooth it and polish it and send it out tomorrow or Saturday.

Then only the short epilogue is left.

[cajun-jack]

and if it is hemp rope...they can all enjoy a good smoke after the "smokin" lol