Utah May Bring Back Firing Squad Executions

[Jazzy]

A Utah politician wants to bring back firing squads as a method of execution after controversy over a botched lethal injection in Oklahoma.

Republican Representative Paul Ray believes death by gun is a more humane and cheaper form of execution, and wants it to be an option for criminals sentenced to death in his state.

He plans to introduce his proposal during Utah's next legislative session in January.

Lawmakers in Wyoming and Missouri tried to pass similar legislation this year, but both efforts failed.

Mr Ray believes firing squads may seem more acceptable now, especially after drug shortages complicated lethal injections.

The default method of execution in the US also came under heightened scrutiny last month when prisoner Clayton Lockett's vein collapsed and he died of a heart attack more than 40 minutes later.

"It sounds like the Wild West, but it's probably the most humane way to kill somebody," Mr Ray said.

"The prisoner dies instantly. It sounds draconian. It sounds really bad, but the minute the bullet hits your heart, you're dead. There's no suffering."

However, critics say things can go wrong with any method of execution.

They cite a case from Utah's territorial days in 1897, when a firing squad missed Wallace Wilkerson's heart and it took him 27 minutes to die.

Utah outlawed firing squads in 2004, citing the excessive media attention it gave inmates.

But those sentenced to death before that date still have the option of choosing it.

The last execution by rifle in the state was 2010, when five police officers used .30-caliber Winchester rifles to kill Ronnie Lee Gardner, who murdered a lawyer in 1985 while trying to escape from a courthouse.

Ray's proposal would give all inmates the option to be shot.

Opponents say firing squads are not necessarily a foolproof answer.

It is possible an inmate could move or police could miss, causing the inmate a slow and painful death, said Richard Dieter, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, which opposes capital punishment.

Source

Should we bring back firing squads as a method of execution? Why / Why not?

 

[DrLeftover]

The UN has also approved of Guillotine.

But, you have to remember one thing, when it comes to executing those who cannot live peacefully amongst the rest of us, the liberals are very squeamish when any blood leaks onto the floor.

Nevermind how heinous the crime was that put the criminal in that position to begin with, THEY must not suffer or be humiliated in any way.

 

[Jazzy]

Republican Representative Paul Ray believes death by gun is a more humane and cheaper form of execution, and wants it to be an option for criminals sentenced to death in his state.

I don't care if it's more humane or not. Key word to me is cheaper and I'd be all for it.

 

[Evil Eye]

I don't get it. What's the point of having an entire squad fire from a distance where it's apparently possible to miss?
What's wrong with having one person shoot them through the head from 10cm?

 

[DrLeftover]

Yeah, they could just hire one of the resident sociopaths to come in a couple of times a year and do them off.

That'd also be a good job for one of the Progressives from the Legislature.

Sorry, bit of a redundancy there.

 

[Evil Eye]

Yeah, they could just hire one of the resident sociopaths to come in a couple of times a year and do them off.

What's so much worse about that than flipping the switch on an electric chair?

 

[DrLeftover]

Yeah, they could just hire one of the resident sociopaths to come in a couple of times a year and do them off.

What's so much worse about that than flipping the switch on an electric chair?

blood

To a good solid Liberal, the convict's bleeding implies they are suffering. Something they MUST not do.

To me..... garroting with piano wire is cheap and effective, and you can reuse the wire.

 

[Nebulous]

One bullet in the head should do the job.