Utah Convict Chooses Firing Squad - Going out like a man

[OCGuy]

This makes that guy claiming to be allergic to anesthetic look like a real bitch....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100423/ap_on_re_us/us_utah_firing_squad

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah is set to execute a convicted killer by firing squad after a judge agreed Friday to the inmate's request, renewing a debate over what critics see as an antiquated, Old West-style of justice.

 

[KeithTalent]

I was kind of surprised when I saw this, did not think firing squad would be allowed anymore. I would take firing squad if I were to be executed. Pretty badass.

KT

 

[Genx87]

This makes that guy claiming to be allergic to anesthetic look like a real bitch....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100423/ap_on_re_us/us_utah_firing_squad

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah is set to execute a convicted killer by firing squad after a judge agreed Friday to the inmate's request, renewing a debate over what critics see as an antiquated, Old West-style of justice.

Waaaa? I seem to remember hangings being Old West Style.

 

[Proprioceptive]

This is one time I will agree with a convicted murderer.

 

[ViviTheMage]

What'd he do?

I figured it out :

Gardner, 49, was sentenced to death for killing an attorney 25 years ago during a failed escape attempt and shootout.

 

[Ns1]

i see no problem here

 

[zinfamous]

He must figure himself for a Colonel in the Spanish Revolutionary Army or something.

 

[Terzo]

Snipped from BBC.

The 49-year-old convict killed a lawyer in a shootout while trying to escape from a courthouse in 1985.
He would be only the third man to be killed by firing squad since the Supreme Court allowed states to have the death penalty in 1976.
The first man to be executed after capital punishment was re-instated was Utah murderer Gary Gilmore. He famously said "Let's do it" before facing the bullets in 1977.
The second - John Albert Taylor - attracted huge media attention for his execution in 1996.
Should Gardner's scheduled death go ahead, it is likely to garner a similar media storm, the BBC's Madeleine Morris in Washington says.
Death row convicts in Utah were for decades allowed to choose their method of execution.
State legislators removed that choice in 2004 and made lethal injection the standard method - but inmates sentenced before then still have a choice.

I don't see what the issue with firing squads is. Why is it fine to kill a man with a lethal injection but not bullets? Especially if he chooses the latter.

 

[dainthomas]

I would. Instead of worrying about some knucklehead screwing up the drugs and taking 15 minutes for me to suffocate or whatever, I'm guaranteed gone in a couple seconds.

 

[CrackRabbit]

Snipped from BBC.

I don't see what the issue with firing squads is. Why is it fine to kill a man with a lethal injection but not bullets? Especially if he chooses the latter.

The US media will make a shitstorm out of it. Just like they tend to do of everything else.
Personally I say give the inmate the choice of LI, Firing Squad, Hanging, or Electric Chair.
It doesn't matter how you go, you are still dead.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

He killed a lawyer? And they're punishing him? There is no justice in this world.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

EPIC!

He killed a lawyer? And they're punishing him? There is no justice in this world.

Hmm, you got a point...

BTW, if anyone wants to block those stupid "on hover" pop ups all over the yahoo page, block the following with your adblocker of choice: "fe.shortcuts.search.yahoo.com" (of course noscript works also)

 

[TwinsenTacquito]

If you HAD to die, why wouldn't you choose firing squad? I mean if they had you in jail and said they were going to kill you anyway, why not be totally badass? Also, they give somebody a blank and others live rounds and tell them they'll never know who killed him. Which is sweet because it's obvious to everyone within 100 yards who fired the blank, especially the shooter! They all know but think they wouldn't! It's great! Hopefully one of them kills himself later in shame. Win-win!

 

[Hacp]

The best way would be a guillotine.

 

[Raduque]

Snipped from BBC.

I don't see what the issue with firing squads is. Why is it fine to kill a man with a lethal injection but not bullets? Especially if he chooses the latter.

All of the other methods of execution are considered to be "inhumane".

 

[RapidSnail]

If you HAD to die, why wouldn't you choose firing squad? I mean if they had you in jail and said they were going to kill you anyway, why not be totally badass? Also, they give somebody a blank and others live rounds and tell them they'll never know who killed him. Which is sweet because it's obvious to everyone within 100 yards who fired the blank, especially the shooter! They all know but think they wouldn't! It's great! Hopefully one of them kills himself later in shame. Win-win!

WTF are you talking about?!?

 

[boomhower]

I don't see the problem. Let them pick, lethal injection, hanging, gas, firing squad, if it will kill them and someone is willing to do it, let them go at it. Bring back quartering if someone wants it.

 

[JSt0rm]

It would be even better if he demanded to be dressed as a spanish conquistador.

 

[ViRGE]

I don't see what the issue with firing squads is. Why is it fine to kill a man with a lethal injection but not bullets? Especially if he chooses the latter.

It's messy and possibly painful. Lethal injection and hangings are more or less painless and leave the body intact. Firing squads put holes in the body and wouldn't necessarily be painless. State legislatures don't want messy, painful executions because it makes them look inhuman and puts a negative light on the whole concept.

 

[JSt0rm]

a headshot would be messy. They probably have them aim for the heart. I dont think trained pros at almost point blank range could mess this up.

 

[Powermoloch]

This I approve.

 

[TXHokie]

a headshot would be messy. They probably have them aim for the heart. I dont think trained pros at almost point blank range could mess this up.

Does a shot thru the heart cause instant death? I would think at least 1 of 5 aim for headshot or all 5 aim for the heart?

 

[keird]

Does a shot thru the heart cause instant death? I would think at least 1 of 5 aim for headshot or all 5 aim for the heart?

They aim for the heart, but 4 out of five are blanks and none of the 5 know which is the live round. This reduces the mental anguish for the true executioner

Firing Squad - Execution by a firing squad usually involves a team of five shooters, only some of whom use real bullets with others using blanks. The team aims for the trunk of the body, as a target is placed on the heart of the condemned inmate. Currently this method is only used in Utah, but may be dropped from availability in that state in the near future.

http://www.prodeathpenalty.com/Methods.htm

 

[JSt0rm]

if you get shot in the heart you will be out. You will fade to black pretty quick.

Now of course I'm talking out of my ass as I haven't been shot in the heart

 

[Terzo]

It's messy and possibly painful. Lethal injection and hangings are more or less painless and leave the body intact. Firing squads put holes in the body and wouldn't necessarily be painless. State legislatures don't want messy, painful executions because it makes them look inhuman and puts a negative light on the whole concept.

Ah, I can understand this reasoning. As someone said, if the convicted would rather die by noose or firing squad instead of injection that's their choice, whether someone thinks it humane or not. However, it sounds like the state is more concerned with the public image associated with the shooting.
Though, as someone who leans towards abolishing the death penalty*, if a state is that concerned about their image then maybe they shouldn't execute people at all.

*There are still times when I hear a case where I think the person should die, but generally I don't condone it.