Idaho to allow death by firing squad for death row inmates

KARAH RUCKER: IN IDAHO – THERE’S SOON TO BE A NEW LEGAL FORM OF EXECUTION FOR DEATH ROW INMATES. DEATH BY FIRING SQUAD WILL BE AN OPTION OF LAST RESORT IN THE STATE WHEN LETHAL INJECTIONS AREN’T AVAILABLE.

THE STATE PASSED THE LEGISLATION MONDAY WITH A VETO-PROOF MAJORITY, JUST A COUPLE WEEKS AFTER THE STATE HOUSE DID THE SAME. THE CONTROVERSIAL FORM OF EXECUTION WILL BE USED ONLY WHEN THE STATE CAN’T OBTAIN DRUGS NEEDED FOR LETHAL INJECTIONS, WHICH DOES HAPPEN. THE LAST TIME AN EXECUTION WAS POSTPONED DUE TO THE LACK OF NECESSARY CHEMICALS WAS IN NOVEMBER.

THERE’S BEEN A RENEWED PUSH FOR ALTERNATIVE EXECUTION METHODS IN RECENT YEARS. ITS DIFFICULT FOR STATES TO GET SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR LETHAL INJECTIONS. THEY’RE COSTLY, AND COME WITH RISKS.

DEATH BY FIRING SQUAD TYPICALLY CONSISTS OF THE DEATH-ROW INMATE STANDING AGAINST A WALL WITH MULTIPLE PERSONNEL SIMULTANEOUSLY FIRING BULLETS AT THE PRISONER’S HEART.

IDAHO REPRESENTATIVE BRUCE SKAUG, WHO AUTHORED THE BILL, SAYS DEATH BY FIRING SQUAD IS A MORE HUMANE FORM OF EXECUTION – CITING INSTANCES OF LETHAL INJECTIONS THAT HAVE GONE WRONG.

MISSISSIPPI, UTAH, OKLAHOMA, AND SOUTH CAROLINA CURRENTLY HAVE LAWS ALLOWING FIRING SQUAD EXECUTIONS IF OTHER METHODS ARE UNAVAILABLE.

EVEN WHEN THE NEW LAW GOES INTO EFFECT – DON’T EXPECT THIS TO BE A REGULAR OCCURRENCE. THE STATE OF IDAHO HAS CONDUCTED ONLY THREE EXECUTIONS SINCE 1976. AND IN THE U.S. – THERE HAVE BEEN ONLY FOUR EXECUTIONS BY FIRING SQUAD SINCE 1960 – ALL OCCURRING IN UTAH.