Idaho poised to allow firing-squad executions in some cases

[Stevicus]

Idaho poised to allow firing-squad executions in some cases

A bill that would allow Idaho to execute condemned inmates by firing squad is headed to the governor’s desk after passing the Legislature with a veto-proof majority.

apnews.com

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho is poised to allow firing squads to execute condemned inmates when the state can’t get lethal-injection drugs, under a bill the Legislature passed Monday with a veto-proof majority.

Firing squads will be used only if the state cannot obtain the drugs needed for lethal injections — and one death row inmate has already had his scheduled execution postponed multiple times because of drug scarcity.

The move by Idaho lawmakers is in line with those by other states that in recent years have scrambled to revive older methods of execution because of difficulties obtaining drugs required for longstanding lethal injection programs. Pharmaceutical companies increasingly have barred executioners from using their drugs, saying they were meant to save lives, not take them.

Only Mississippi, Utah, Oklahoma and South Carolina currently have laws allowing firing squads if other execution methods are unavailable, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. South Carolina’s law is on hold pending the outcome of a legal challenge.

Not that I would oppose pharmaceutical companies from refusing to sell their products to executioners, but it is curious just the same. This could mean that lethal injection could be off the table as a form of execution.

Electrocution and lethal gas can take a long time, prolonging the agony. Firing squad seems quick enough. Hanging seems pretty nasty, although a guillotine might be quick.

 

[fantome profane]

The most humane form of execution is simply to force the victim to live their lives until dead. It may be slow, but 100% effective.

 

[SomeRandom]

Wtf?

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Hey, it's the US. So many guns, maybe firing squads will get a few of them off the streets. (There's no emoji for what I feel about what I just said.)

 

[Stevicus]

Just for reference sake:

 

[Subduction Zone]

I hit "other"

https://i.gifer.com/QZl2.gif

If you really want to see it. still in rather low resolution:

Spoiler

 

[Stevicus]

I hit "other"

https://i.gifer.com/QZl2.gif

I was thinking about posting that myself, although I wasn't sure if it wouldn't be a bit too risqué.

Still, the idea of letting condemned prisoners choose their own method of execution is at least some measure of reform.

 

[Subduction Zone]

I was thinking about posting that myself, although I wasn't sure if it wouldn't be a bit too risqué.

Still, the idea of letting condemned prisoners choose their own method of execution is at least some measure of reform.

The gif is awfully low res. So it should be okay. I added a video, but put that behind a spoiler. I should have used the title option.

But aside from that I am against the death penalty.

 

[TLK Valentine]

I was thinking about posting that myself, although I wasn't sure if it wouldn't be a bit too risqué.

Still, the idea of letting condemned prisoners choose their own method of execution is at least some measure of reform.

That could backfire (no pun intended)
Ever see the Twilight Zone episode, "The Obsolete Man"?

 

[Stevicus]

That could backfire (no pun intended)
Ever see the Twilight Zone episode, "The Obsolete Man"?

I think I've seen every episode at one point or another, but it's been a long time.

 

[Sand Dancer]

Just for reference sake:

View attachment 73586

Very telling.

 

[Alien826]

I'm actually against the death penalty, but this was interesting enough so I answered on the basis "if the death penalty exists ...".

I chose "Guillotine" because it does seem to kill with the least suffering. M. Guillotine that invented it was trying to do just that, as an alternative to someone chopping off the victim's head with an axe. Unfortunately the French Revolution gave it a bad name. I would also be OK with any other device that did the same job. A firing squad is not so good as it relies on the shooters' accuracy.

Ugh, I don't even like writing this, I have to add a silly joke.

A Christian, a Lawyer and an Engineer are all (at different times) to be executed by guillotine. In all cases, the blade sticks half way down. The Christian says "God has intervened, you have to let me go!" The Lawyer says "Legally you only get one attempt, you must let me go". The Engineer looks up and says "There's something stuck in the track there, if you remove it, it will work".

 

[Revoltingest]

I'd want to be executed by being pushed out of
an airplane. Very high painless death rate.
And that last ride would be a doozy.

 

[Shaul]

Those that are to be executed should be able to choose the method used, if they want to. The customer is always right.

 

[metis]

Those that are to be executed should be able to choose the method used, if they want to. The customer is always right.

As we move backwards.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Executions are made much too complicated today

Russians had done it with one bullet, one brain.

Quick and cheap.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

"Humane execution" is an oxymoron. It's better just to get rid of it and cease the stupidity of eye for an eye and quit letting the state sink to the level of the worst killers it says must be killed to keep us safe.
But the American Taliban isn't too big into the humane treatment of others, especially those they have labeled as sinners.

 

[metis]

Some people apparently are totally unaware of an FBI estimate that about 1 in 10 people in prison were falsely accused, plus we've seen numerous cases whereas someone on death row was vindicated and then released because further evince showed (s)he could not have been the murderer. Why is this so complicated for them to understand? If they had a loved one on death row, would they take the same position?

 

[Revoltingest]

As we move backwards.

Firing squads are actually much more humane than other commonly used methods.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Firing squads are actually much more humane than other commonly used methods.

I feel that's like saying some golden showers are better than others.