The Return of Firing Squad Executions in South Carolina
The state of South Carolina is preparing to carry out its first firing squad execution in history, marking a controversial chapter in the nation’s use of capital punishment. The execution, scheduled for Friday, follows the completion of a revamped death chamber three years ago. A team of sharpshooters has been training to ensure precision in what is set to be a historic and highly scrutinized event. This method of execution, though rare in modern times, has been legalization in South Carolina in 2021 amid a nationwide shortage of lethal injection drugs. The condemned inmate, 67-year-old Brad Sigmon, chose firing squad over the state’s primary methods of electrocution or lethal injection, citing concerns over the latter’s humane application and efficacy.
The Rarity of Firing Squad Executions in the U.S.
Death by firing squad remains an exceedingly uncommon form of capital punishment in the United States. Since the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the death penalty in 1976, only three such executions have been carried out, all in Utah. The most recent occurred in 2010, when Ronnie Lee Gardner was executed for murder. South Carolina’s planned execution is poised to revive a method that many consider archaic and barbaric, yet it is being justified as a practical alternative to lethal injection, which has faced increasing challenges in recent years. The nonprofit Death Penalty Information Center has highlighted the difficulties states face in procuring the necessary drugs and finding medical professionals willing to participate in executions, leading some to revisit older methods like firing squads.
Legal and Ethical Challenges Surrounding Sigmon’s Execution
Brad Sigmon, who was convicted in 2002 for the beating deaths of his ex-girlfriend’s parents, has spent two decades on death row. His decision to opt for firing squad over lethal injection was influenced by alarming reports from recent executions in South Carolina. In a court filing, Sigmon’s legal team pointed to the autopsy of Marion Bowman Jr., who was executed by lethal injection last month. Bowman was administered double the amount of pentobarbital outlined in the state’s protocol and died with lungs “massively swollen with blood and fluid,” a condition described as akin to drowning. Sigmon’s lawyer, Gerald “Bo” King, argued that the state must disclose more information about its lethal injection protocol and the quality of its drugs to ensure his client’s choice was fair and informed.
State prosecutors, however, countered that Sigmon’s decision to choose firing squad meant he had effectively waived his right to challenge the lethal injection method. They also dismissed concerns about Bowman’s execution, asserting that the second dose of pentobarbital was administered in accordance with the state’s protocol. With Sigmon’s execution nearing, the case has reignited debates about the ethics and humanity of capital punishment, particularly the use of firing squads. As the state prepares to carry out the sentence, questions linger about whether this method is a step backward in the evolution of capital punishment.
The Historical Context of Firing Squad Executions
Firing squad executions have a long, though largely forgotten, history in the United States. During the Civil War, they were commonly used to execute deserters, often under brutal conditions. By the early 20th century, the method had largely fallen out of favor, seen as too gruesome and outdated. However, Utah revived the practice in 1977, and several other states, including Mississippi and Oklahoma, have since included it in their capital punishment statutes. South Carolina legalized firing squad executions in 2021, and Idaho followed suit two years later.
The revival of this method has sparked intense debate, with critics arguing that it is a barbaric relic of the past. Corinna Barrett Lain, a law professor at the University of Richmond and author of an upcoming book on lethal injection, notes that firing squads are inherently “too honest” about the nature of capital punishment, forcing society to confront the violence involved in taking a life. This transparency, she argues, could lead to important conversations about the morality and future of the death penalty in America.
Utah’s Experience with Firing Squad Executions
The last firing squad execution in the United States took place in Utah in 2010, when Ronnie Lee Gardner was put to death for murder. Gardner, who was sentenced to death for killing an attorney during an attempted escape in 1985, was strapped to a chair, hooded, and fitted with a white target over his heart. Five volunteer shooters, all certified police officers, fired .30-caliber rifles from behind a wall, ensuring that one of the bullets would be fatal. One of the shooters was given a blank round, a practice intended to ease the psychological burden on the participants.
Witnesses described the execution as a clinical and precise procedure, with Gardner appearing to die quickly. However, the event left a lasting impact on those involved, including Gardner’s brother, Randy, who became an advocate against the death penalty. He recalled vividly the trauma of seeing his brother’s body and the graphic autopsy photos, which showed the extent of the injuries caused by the bullets. Randy Gardner has since spoken out against the use of firing squads, calling it a brutal method that haunts those left behind.
What’s Planned in South Carolina
In South Carolina, the firing squad execution is set to take place at the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia. The condemned inmate will be seated in a chair, hooded, and fitted with a target over his heart. A three-person firing squad, composed of volunteer Department of Corrections employees, will fire live ammunition from behind a wall approximately 15 feet away. The inmate will be allowed to make a final statement before the hood is placed over his head. Witnesses, including media representatives, will observe the execution from behind bulletproof glass.
Mental health support has been made available to the correctional staff involved in the execution, reflecting the psychological toll such events can take. D’Michelle DuPre, a forensic consultant and former medical examiner, has argued that firing squad executions, when conducted properly, are quick and cause minimal pain, as the heart is immediately incapacitated. However, the method remains deeply controversial, with critics arguing that it is inherently inhumane and outdated.
As South Carolina prepares to carry out this execution, the debate over the use of firing squads—and the death penalty itself—continues to gain momentum. While some view it as a necessary alternative to problematic lethal injection protocols, others see it as a step backward in the evolution of justice. Whatever the outcome of this execution, it is clear that the use of firing squads will continue to spark intense dialogue about the nature of capital punishment in America.
