Idaho bill could bring back execution by firing squad

Feb 28, 2023

Mahmoud Bennett Social Media Producer

By Mahmoud Bennett (Social Media Producer)

A new bill in the state of Idaho seeks to make death by firing squad a legal form of execution. The proposal, led by state representative Bruce Skaug (R), comes after the Idaho Department of Correction had to cancel the scheduled execution of Gerald Pizzuto Jr. in November due to a lack of necessary chemicals.

Rep. Skaug argues that death by firing squad is a more humane form of execution, citing instances of lethal injections failing to swiftly execute some on death row. However, the bill does not specify how many or what type of firearms should be used, and it grants authority to the state’s Department of Correction to use the option if lethal injections are not available, as reported by KBOI 2 News.

Three Democratic lawmakers in the state voiced their opposition to the bill, calling death by firing squad an extremely violent and painful method of execution. If passed, the bill could impact accused murder suspect Bryan Kohberger in a hypothetical scenario, as he faces four counts of first-degree murder. Prosecutors have not confirmed whether they are seeking the death penalty for him.

Lethal injection is currently the only legal form of execution in Idaho and is the preferred method of capital punishment in the 27 states that have the death penalty, according to NPR. However, complications such as difficulty finding usable veins, pricing, and severe problems procuring the actual chemicals for the injection have led more states to approve controversial backup methods.

Tags: Bryan Kohberger, Executions, Idaho, lethal injections

MAHMOUD BENNETT:

A NEW BILL IN THE STATE OF IDAHO WANTS TO BRING BACK DEATH BY FIRING SQUAD AS A LEGAL FORM OF EXECUTION

STATE REPRESENTATIVE BRUCE SKAUG PUT FORWARD THE MEASURE – HE ARGUES IT’S A MORE HUMANE FORM OF EXECUTION, POINTING TO INSTANCES OF LETHAL INJECTIONS FAILING TO SWIFTLY EXECUTE SOME ON DEATH ROW

THE BILL DOES NOT DEFINE HOW MANY OR WHAT TYPE OF FIREARMS SHALL BE USED AND GIVES AUTHORITY TO THE STATE’S DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION TO USE THE OPTION IF LETHAL INJECTIONS ARE *NOT AVAILABLE*

IT FACES OPPOSITION FROM DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS IN THE STATE WHO CALL IT AN EXTREMELY VIOLENT AND PAINFUL METHOD OF EXECUTION.

IF PASSED, OUTLETS REPORT IT COULD IMPACT ACCUSED MURDER SUSPECT BRYAN KOHBERGER IN A HYPOTHETICAL SCENARIO – HE FACES FOUR COUNTS OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER *THOUGH AS OF THIS REPORT* PROSECUTORS HAVEN’T CONFIRMED THEY’RE SEEKING THE DEATH PENALTY FOR HIM

RIGHT NOW LETHAL INJECTION IS THE ONLY LEGAL FORM OF EXECUTION IN IDAHO AND IS THE PREFERRED METHOD OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE 27 STATES THAT HAVE THE DEATH PENALTY

THOUGH A LONG HISTORY OF COMPLICATIONS LIKE DIFFICULTY FINDING USABLE VEINS, PRICING, AND SEVERE PROBLEMS PROCURING THE ACTUAL CHEMICALS FOR THE INJECTION – HAVE HAD SOME STATES GIVING A GREEN LIGHT TO CONTROVERSIAL BACKUP METHODS

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