Utah House Approves Bringing Back Firing Squads
Click here for reuse options!Rep. Paul Ray, a Republican from Clearfield who is sponsoring the measure, said after the vote Friday that he thinks it will be just as close in the Senate, and he hasn’t started trying to press his case in that chamber.
Lawmakers in House of Representatives initially voted 35-35 on the proposal
Friday morning. But Ray asked for three missing lawmakers to be summoned to the floor, where they all voted in favor…Ray argues that a team of trained marksmen is faster and more humane than the drawn-out deaths that have occurred in botched lethal injections. His bill would call for a firing squad if Utah cannot get lethal injection drugs 30 days before an execution.
Critics say the firing squad is a gruesome relic of Utah’s Wild West past and would bring international condemnation upon the state. That criticism and excessive media attention was one of the reasons many lawmakers voted in 2004 to stop allowing condemned prisoners to choose death by firing squad.
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rg9rts February 18th, 2015 at 08:04
His son is a NRA Sharpshooter???
rg9rts February 18th, 2015 at 09:04
His son is a NRA Sharpshooter???
Jack E Raynbeau February 18th, 2015 at 09:50
We’re a bit behind here in Utah. It took the 2002 Olympics to drag us into the 20th century.
Jack E Raynbeau February 18th, 2015 at 10:50
We’re a bit behind here in Utah. It took the 2002 Olympics to drag us into the 20th century.
Jack E Raynbeau February 18th, 2015 at 10:02
http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2190376-155/bagley-cartoon-humane-execution
Jack E Raynbeau February 18th, 2015 at 11:02
http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2190376-155/bagley-cartoon-humane-execution
MarcoZandrini February 18th, 2015 at 10:15
I had the weirdest dream last night about a firing squad executing a woman. The first volley missed her heart completely. So they brought in an all-female firing squad! Weird!
Capital punishment doesn’t deter crime, costs more than a sentence of life without parole and runs the chance of killing an innocent person. Google “Todd Wittingham Texas.”
MarcoZandrini February 18th, 2015 at 11:15
I had the weirdest dream last night about a firing squad executing a woman. The first volley missed her heart completely. So they brought in an all-female firing squad! Weird!
Capital punishment doesn’t deter crime, costs more than a sentence of life without parole and runs the chance of killing an innocent person. Google “Todd Wittingham Texas.”
illinoisboy1977 February 18th, 2015 at 10:46
While I don’t disagree that violence can be counterproductive, we ARE a violent species. It’s in our nature. Because of this, I feel that the death penalty is necessary, to insure that the worst among us are not going to get the opportunity to ever kill again. The firing squad, while loud and messy, is a quick and humane way of dispatching someone. Moreso than a method that paralyzes you and slowly suffocates you to death. Given the choice, I’d rather take a handful of 30-30 slugs to the chest. That being said, we need to continue to improve our standards for a burden of proof, which will only allow such a penalty in cases where scientific and physical evidence of guilt are overwhelming.
illinoisboy1977 February 18th, 2015 at 11:46
While I don’t disagree that violence can be counterproductive, we ARE a violent species. It’s in our nature. Because of this, I feel that the death penalty is necessary, to insure that the worst among us are not going to get the opportunity to ever kill again. The firing squad, while loud and messy, is a quick and humane way of dispatching someone. Moreso than a method that paralyzes you and slowly suffocates you to death. Given the choice, I’d rather take a handful of 30-30 slugs to the chest. That being said, we need to continue to improve our standards for a burden of proof, which will only allow such a penalty in cases where scientific and physical evidence of guilt are overwhelming.
Khary A February 18th, 2015 at 11:18
*sigh* Firing squad..really? Is that how far we’ve come, the proto-typical manner that fascist regimes always choose to get rid of their undesirables!? What the Hell happened to people!?! Seriously what BJ isn’t this guy getting that this is a good plan?
I’ve seen people shot and its a mess, not nearly as neat and clean as these people think it is. Unless it’s in the face which isn’t really the thing as we are a civilized country and we try to not mutilate for punishment practices.
Personally if I was convicted of a crime that warranted the death sentence and I got to pick my way of execution it’s the Monty Python: Meaning of Life way…all the way.
The last of the Thousad Sons February 18th, 2015 at 12:18
*sigh* Firing squad..really? Is that how far we’ve come, the proto-typical manner that fascist regimes always choose to get rid of their undesirables!? What the Hell happened to people!?! Seriously what BJ isn’t this guy getting that this is a good plan?
I’ve seen people shot and its a mess, not nearly as neat and clean as these people think it is. Unless it’s in the face which isn’t really the thing as we are a civilized country and we try to not mutilate for punishment practices.
Personally if I was convicted of a crime that warranted the death sentence and I got to pick my way of execution it’s the Monty Python: Meaning of Life way…all the way.
Apocalypse February 18th, 2015 at 13:42
Animals are humanely euthanized routinely, why is it so difficult for people? Not that I’m for the death penalty…
Apocalypse February 18th, 2015 at 14:42
Animals are humanely euthanized routinely, why is it so difficult for people? Not that I’m for the death penalty…