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Utah reinstates firing squad as primary 'fallback' to lethal injection Human rights groups call Utah firing squad decision 'backward – and backwoods'
(35 minutes later)
Human rights campaigners have condemned Utah’s decision to reinstate the firing squad as a viable form of capital punishment as “backward” and “brutalizing”.Human rights campaigners have condemned Utah’s decision to reinstate the firing squad as a viable form of capital punishment as “backward” and “brutalizing”.
State governor Gary Herbert described the execution method as “a little bit gruesome” as he was signing a new law on Monday to allow it in cases where authorities are unable to administer a lethal injection.State governor Gary Herbert described the execution method as “a little bit gruesome” as he was signing a new law on Monday to allow it in cases where authorities are unable to administer a lethal injection.
Utah had previously allowed death by firing squad as an unusual option that condemned prisoners could choose, but it will now use it as a compulsory fallback provision when the state has difficulty buying the drugs needed for lethal injection, because of supplier boycotts.Utah had previously allowed death by firing squad as an unusual option that condemned prisoners could choose, but it will now use it as a compulsory fallback provision when the state has difficulty buying the drugs needed for lethal injection, because of supplier boycotts.
“The Utah legislature should be expending its energies on abolishing the death penalty, not trying to fix the unfixable,” said Rob Freer, a US researcher with Amnesty International. “The Utah legislature should be expending its energies on abolishing the death penalty, not trying to fix the unfixable,” said Rob Freer, a US researcher with Amnesty International. He called the law “just the latest attempt by one of the more diehard death penalty states to keep alive a punishment it should have killed off long ago”.
He pointed out that Utah was bucking the trend in the US where, since 2007, six states have abolished the death penalty and three more have declared a moratorium on executions. Freer pointed out that Utah was bucking the trend in the US where, since 2007, six states have abolished the death penalty and three more have declared a moratorium on executions.
“Whether by shooting, lethal injection, hanging, asphyxiation or electrocution, the death penalty is a cruel, brutalizing and outdated punishment that is a symptom of violence, not a solution to it,” Freer added.“Whether by shooting, lethal injection, hanging, asphyxiation or electrocution, the death penalty is a cruel, brutalizing and outdated punishment that is a symptom of violence, not a solution to it,” Freer added.
The American Civil Liberties Union branch in Utah issued a statement saying the new law made the state look “backward – and backwoods”.The American Civil Liberties Union branch in Utah issued a statement saying the new law made the state look “backward – and backwoods”.
“We believe all current methods of capital punishment violate the eighth amendment to the US constitution that outlaws cruel and unusual punishment, but this particular method, firing squad, seems very barbaric and something more associated with war,” said Karen McCreary, executive director of the ACLU of Utah, who testified to the state legislature against the adoption of the method.“We believe all current methods of capital punishment violate the eighth amendment to the US constitution that outlaws cruel and unusual punishment, but this particular method, firing squad, seems very barbaric and something more associated with war,” said Karen McCreary, executive director of the ACLU of Utah, who testified to the state legislature against the adoption of the method.
Utah’s new law allows the state to use a firing squad only if the lethal injection drugs are unavailable 30 days before an execution is scheduled to take place.Utah’s new law allows the state to use a firing squad only if the lethal injection drugs are unavailable 30 days before an execution is scheduled to take place.
“Those who voiced opposition to this bill are primarily arguing against capital punishment in general and that decision has already been made in our state,” said Marty Carpenter, spokesman for Herbert.“Those who voiced opposition to this bill are primarily arguing against capital punishment in general and that decision has already been made in our state,” said Marty Carpenter, spokesman for Herbert.
“We regret anyone ever commits the heinous crime of aggravated murder to merit the death penalty, and we prefer to use our primary method of lethal injection when such a sentence is issued. However, when a jury makes the decision and a judge signs a death warrant, enforcing that lawful decision is the obligation of the executive branch.”“We regret anyone ever commits the heinous crime of aggravated murder to merit the death penalty, and we prefer to use our primary method of lethal injection when such a sentence is issued. However, when a jury makes the decision and a judge signs a death warrant, enforcing that lawful decision is the obligation of the executive branch.”
The statement emphasised that lethal injection remains the primary method for carrying out executions in Utah. At a press conference last week, Herbert told reporters that he preferred the lethal injection method, but said “we need to have a fallback”.The statement emphasised that lethal injection remains the primary method for carrying out executions in Utah. At a press conference last week, Herbert told reporters that he preferred the lethal injection method, but said “we need to have a fallback”.
With lethal injections in short supply around the country, Utah is one of a handful of states returning to execution practices once abandoned for their gruesome nature.With lethal injections in short supply around the country, Utah is one of a handful of states returning to execution practices once abandoned for their gruesome nature.
This year, lawmakers in Arkansas are considering a proposal to allow the firing squad, and in Oklahoma, a lawmaker there proposed a bill that would allow nitrogen case as an alternative to lethal injections. Other states have debated bringing back the electric chair.This year, lawmakers in Arkansas are considering a proposal to allow the firing squad, and in Oklahoma, a lawmaker there proposed a bill that would allow nitrogen case as an alternative to lethal injections. Other states have debated bringing back the electric chair.
The firing squad as a form of state execution has only rarely been used in the US since the end of the civil war. But the few that have been carried out since then were all in Utah.The firing squad as a form of state execution has only rarely been used in the US since the end of the civil war. But the few that have been carried out since then were all in Utah.
The state eliminated execution by firing squad in 2004, but inmates condemned before then still have the option of choosing it. The the last prisoner put to death that way was Ronnie Lee Gardner in 2010.The state eliminated execution by firing squad in 2004, but inmates condemned before then still have the option of choosing it. The the last prisoner put to death that way was Ronnie Lee Gardner in 2010.
On his execution day, five anonymous marksmen took aim at a target pinned over his heart and fired. One of the guns was loaded with blanks, so no one would know who fired the fatal shot.On his execution day, five anonymous marksmen took aim at a target pinned over his heart and fired. One of the guns was loaded with blanks, so no one would know who fired the fatal shot.
While Utah is not currently expected to schedule another execution for several years, Herbert’s office said last week he had received hundreds of letters about the measure.While Utah is not currently expected to schedule another execution for several years, Herbert’s office said last week he had received hundreds of letters about the measure.
A good chunk of the messages in opposition came from a campaign against the proposal by the American Civil Liberties Union, where individuals could write to the governor with a pre-written email.A good chunk of the messages in opposition came from a campaign against the proposal by the American Civil Liberties Union, where individuals could write to the governor with a pre-written email.
The governor’s office received out-of-state phone calls about the bill. But it only tracks those from Utah residents and had none to report.The governor’s office received out-of-state phone calls about the bill. But it only tracks those from Utah residents and had none to report.
The messages Herbert did receive were primarily emails and came from people in Utah and those living as far away as Rhode Island, Minnesota and even New Zealand.The messages Herbert did receive were primarily emails and came from people in Utah and those living as far away as Rhode Island, Minnesota and even New Zealand.
Several people wrote to say they would not vacation in Utah if the bill is approved. “I will never again come to Utah to ski if this barbaric execution style is used again in your state,” wrote Randy Kilmer, a Seattle resident. Gary Gilmore was executed by a Utah firing squad in 1977, having asked for that method after a moratorium on capital punishment was lifted in 1976, but a 2004 law made lethal injection the only valid form of execution.Several people wrote to say they would not vacation in Utah if the bill is approved. “I will never again come to Utah to ski if this barbaric execution style is used again in your state,” wrote Randy Kilmer, a Seattle resident. Gary Gilmore was executed by a Utah firing squad in 1977, having asked for that method after a moratorium on capital punishment was lifted in 1976, but a 2004 law made lethal injection the only valid form of execution.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.The Associated Press contributed to this report.