March 23rd 2023.
On Monday, Idaho lawmakers voted to pass a bill which would authorize the application of a firing squad for those accused of premeditated crimes, as stated on the legislature’s website.
Rep. Bruce D. Skaug confirmed the decision to CNN in an email, stating, “H186 has now passed the Idaho Senate and House with a veto- proof majority. Upon signature of the governor [Brad Little, a Republican], the state may now more likely carryout justice, as determined by our judicial system, against those who have committed first-degree murder.”
This bill has been met with criticism, as such a measure could result in damaging consequences for those in pursuit of clemency or reprieve, particularly Black and Brown people.
The bill states that this method of carrying out death penalty sentences will only be used in cases where the state is unable to procure the necessary drugs for lethal injections, or if the courts deem the usual means of execution unconstitutional.
It is not cheap either, as the Department of Correction must be renovated to the tune of $750,000 in order to meet the “safety and execution requirements for the firing squad.”
Apart from Idaho, South Carolina, Mississippi, Utah, and Oklahoma have all approved the use of firing squads for executions in the past decade.
The last time a firing squad was utilized to execute someone was in 2010, with Ronnie Lee Gardner in Utah being the victim.
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