Utah Recruiting Firing Squad

[Dari]

link

Doesn't federal law prohibit such an act as it might fall under some category of cruel and unusual punishment?

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Officials in the US state of Utah are recruiting a firing squad after two death row convicts invoked their right to be executed by marksmen.
Utah is one of just three American states where execution by a team of riflemen is available as an alternative to lethal injection or electrocution.

The state's Correction Department is looking for "responsible people" from police forces in the areas where the two murderers committed their crimes, to form the firing squad.

Campaigners against the death penalty said condemned men sometimes elected to be shot to highlight the barbaric nature of capital punishment.

But this does not seem to be the case here, the New York Times reported.

Troy Kell - a white supremacist who killed a black prison inmate in 1994 - requested a firing squad only because he did not like the idea of poison running through his veins.

Roberto Arguelles - who sexually assaulted and killed three teenage girls and a 42-year-old woman in 1992 - did not give any reason for his decision, the newspaper said.

Choice of fate

Kell's execution was set for 27 June, but he has undertaken appeals that are likely to delay his appearance before the firing squad. Arguelles is set to be shot on 28 June.

Since the United States Supreme Court allowed reinstatement of capital punishment in Utah in 1976, two out of six prisoners put to death there have chosen to die by firing squad.

Besides Utah, only Idaho and Oklahoma allow riflemen to be used in executions, and only Utah allows the condemned person to make the choice.

Oklahoma law allows use of a firing squad if lethal injection and electrocution are ruled unconstitutional. Idaho permits it when lethal injection is found to be "impractical".

 

[UltraQuiet]

Doesn't federal law prohibit such an act as it might fall under some category of cruel and unusual punishment?

No.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Dari
link

Doesn't federal law prohibit such an act as it might fall under some category of cruel and unusual punishment?

No. It is not cruel, and not all that unusual. And the prisoners requested it specifically.

 

[Dari]

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii

Originally posted by: Dari
link

Doesn't federal law prohibit such an act as it might fall under some category of cruel and unusual punishment?

No. It is not cruel, and not all that unusual. And the prisoners requested it specifically.

so if I committed a crime and wanted to die by having a coronary block because of too much steak, it could be granted? In other words, anything goes?

BTW, is it illegal because it hasn't been tested in the courts (yet) or because the federal gov't specifically allows such an act?

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Dari

so if I committed a crime and wanted to die by having a coronary block because of too much steak, it could be granted? In other words, anything goes?

BTW, is it illegal because it hasn't been tested in the courts (yet) or because the federal gov't specifically allows such an act?

Death by firing squad is a method of execution that has been around for quite a while. Death by eating too much steak is not. Stick to realistic scenarios.

Do you think it's cruel for a person to be killed by a firing squad? Why? If they are shot in the head, their death will be quick and painless.

Edit: These guys might see death by firing squad as more "dignified" than being strapped to a gurney for lethal injection or a chair for electrocution. Does anyone happen to know what method of execution the U.S. military uses for soldiers convicted of serious crimes?

 

[Dari]

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii

Originally posted by: Dari

so if I committed a crime and wanted to die by having a coronary block because of too much steak, it could be granted? In other words, anything goes?

BTW, is it illegal because it hasn't been tested in the courts (yet) or because the federal gov't specifically allows such an act?

Death by firing squad is a method of execution that has been around for quite a while. Death by eating too much steak is not. Stick to realistic scenarios.

Do you think it's cruel for a person to be killed by a firing squad? Why? If they are shot in the head, their death will be quick and painless.

do you know how many people have been shot in the head and lived? the thing is, if they live, that is cruel and unusual punishment. and the state will end up paying the insurance fee, which can go into the millions of dollar. if he lives, the irony will be that they would HAVE to save his life. and he could sue for the state not killing him right.

 

[mugs]

do you know how many people have been shot in the head and lived? the thing is, if they live, that is cruel and unusual punishment. and the state will end up paying the insurance fee, which can go into the millions of dollar. if he lives, the irony will be that they would HAVE to save his life. and he could sue for the state not killing him right.

Utah gives them the option, so I guess they'd have to deal with the consequences if it goes wrong. Maybe they'll have them sign waivers. ;-) Doesn't make it unconstitutional though.

 

[Zrom999]

The firing squad option originated when Utah used to give the option of firing squad or beheading in the past for those sentenced to death. It had to do something about 'blood atonement' in which the Mormons believed the blood had to be spilled on the ground or something like that. I read something about it back in high school. When I find a link I'll post it.

 

[Mill]

Dari- Your assumptions just don't work here. Utah has always had the Firing Squad as a way an inmate can choose to die. Wasn't it Washington that still had hanging a few years back? A 300lb man sued saying hanging was cruel and unusual EVEN THOUGH he requested that form of execution. I think they ended up giving him a lethal injection.

 

[Mill]

Dari- Your assumptions just don't work here. Utah has always had the Firing Squad as a way an inmate can choose to die. Wasn't it Washington that still had hanging a few years back? A 300lb man sued saying hanging was cruel and unusual(because it might decapitate him) EVEN THOUGH he requested that form of execution. I think they ended up giving him a lethal injection.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Zrom999
The firing squad option originated when Utah used to give the option of firing squad or beheading in the past for those sentenced to death. It had to do something about 'blood atonement' in which the Mormons believed the blood had to be spilled on the ground or something like that. I read something about it back in high school. When I find a link I'll post it.

Well there you go - if they don't give them the option, they'd be trampling all over their religious rights.

 

[Tripleshot]

They asked for the firing squad, and that is what they will get. Of the shhoters choosen, one weapon will fire a blank. That way no one knows who fired the shot that killed the convict. The target is not the head. It is the heart.

BTW, these people didn't give their victims a choice. We are at least that civilized in giving the criminal one.


Zrom999

I won't hold my breath waiting for you to find evidence to blame Mormons for this method of execution. You will never find it. It doesn't exist. And beheading was a French method abandoned long ago. Dream on. Or back away from the bong.

 

[Zrom999]

Originally posted by: Tripleshot
They asked for the firing squad, and that is what they will get. Of the shhoters choosen, one weapon will fire a blank. That way no one knows who fired the shot that killed the convict. The target is not the head. It is the heart.

BTW, these people didn't give their victims a choice. We are at least that civilized in giving the criminal one.


Zrom999

I won't hold my breath waiting for you to find evidence to blame Mormons for this method of execution. You will never find it. It doesn't exist. And beheading was a French method abandoned long ago. Dream on. Or back away from the bong.

LMAO
Read & be ignorant no more

 

[NesuD]

Originally posted by: Tripleshot
They asked for the firing squad, and that is what they will get. Of the shhoters choosen, one weapon will fire a blank. That way no one knows who fired the shot that killed the convict. The target is not the head. It is the heart.

BTW, these people didn't give their victims a choice. We are at least that civilized in giving the criminal one.


Zrom999

I won't hold my breath waiting for you to find evidence to blame Mormons for this method of execution. You will never find it. It doesn't exist. And beheading was a French method abandoned long ago. Dream on. Or back away from the bong.

Blood atonement

 

[etech]

And beheading was a French method abandoned long ago.

qualifier needed, by most countries.

SAUDI ARABIA

"...
Saudi Arabia has expanded the scope of the death penalty to cover a wide range of offences, including offences without lethal consequences such as apostasy, drug dealing, sodomy and ''witchcraft''. The scores of people who are executed every year, many for non-violent crimes, are put to death after summary trials that offer them no opportunity to defend themselves and almost no protection against miscarriages of justice.

Execution is by public beheading for men and, according to reports, by firing squad or beheading for women, sometimes in public. Foreign nationals are sometimes not even aware that they have been sentenced to death and neither they nor their families are warned in advance of the date of execution. They are rarely if ever allowed to see their loved ones before they are executed.
..."


Condemned Men Face Firing Squad
According to the Death Penalty Information Center, 37 states have lethal injection as their method of execution.

Eight have electrocution, as well as two others that list electrocution as an alternative to other methods. Only Nebraska requires the electric chair.

Five states authorize the use of poison gas and three allow hanging. Besides Utah, two other states allow the use of firing squads under certain circumstances
"


They chose the method, which to me, makes it difficult for it to be protested as cruel and unusual.

 

[Insane3D]

Utah has this method of execution on the books, and they chose the way they wanted to die, so I don't see the problem. If they were being forced to be executed this way, you might have an argument, but since they chose it themselves, it's hard to argue cruel and ununusal in this case..

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: Dari

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii

Originally posted by: Dari

so if I committed a crime and wanted to die by having a coronary block because of too much steak, it could be granted? In other words, anything goes?

BTW, is it illegal because it hasn't been tested in the courts (yet) or because the federal gov't specifically allows such an act?

Death by firing squad is a method of execution that has been around for quite a while. Death by eating too much steak is not. Stick to realistic scenarios.

Do you think it's cruel for a person to be killed by a firing squad? Why? If they are shot in the head, their death will be quick and painless.

do you know how many people have been shot in the head and lived? the thing is, if they live, that is cruel and unusual punishment. and the state will end up paying the insurance fee, which can go into the millions of dollar. if he lives, the irony will be that they would HAVE to save his life. and he could sue for the state not killing him right.

This is why they don't go for headshots. 6 men have rifles with 5 bullets and one blank. On a certain count they fire at the mans heart.

Do you have to be a Utah citizen or even a member of law enforcement to sign up to be on the firing squad?
Can you bring your own rifle?
How about shotguns?

 

[tnitsuj]

Originally posted by: Nitemare

Originally posted by: Dari

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii

Originally posted by: Dari

so if I committed a crime and wanted to die by having a coronary block because of too much steak, it could be granted? In other words, anything goes?

BTW, is it illegal because it hasn't been tested in the courts (yet) or because the federal gov't specifically allows such an act?

Death by firing squad is a method of execution that has been around for quite a while. Death by eating too much steak is not. Stick to realistic scenarios.

Do you think it's cruel for a person to be killed by a firing squad? Why? If they are shot in the head, their death will be quick and painless.

do you know how many people have been shot in the head and lived? the thing is, if they live, that is cruel and unusual punishment. and the state will end up paying the insurance fee, which can go into the millions of dollar. if he lives, the irony will be that they would HAVE to save his life. and he could sue for the state not killing him right.

This is why they don't go for headshots. 6 men have rifles with 5 bullets and one blank. On a certain count they fire at the mans heart.

Do you have to be a Utah citizen or even a member of law enforcement to sign up to be on the firing squad?
Can you bring your own rifle?
How about shotguns?

The firing squad is being recruited from Utah law enforcement and corrections.
You can not bring your own rifle.
I hope you are being funny.

 

[LeadMagnet]

Oklahoma is the only state to allow cock(rooster) fighting. Perhaps we could have deathrow inmates executed by the birds.

 

[rahvin]

Utah has 2 official forms of execution, leathal injection and firing squad. Not sure how long ago, but anywhere up to about 5 years ago there was an execution by firing squad in Utah. Anyone that willingly chooses firing squad over lethal injection has no claim.

Originally posted by: Dari
do you know how many people have been shot in the head and lived? the thing is, if they live, that is cruel and unusual punishment. and the state will end up paying the insurance fee, which can go into the millions of dollar. if he lives, the irony will be that they would HAVE to save his life. and he could sue for the state not killing him right.

You know very very little about the law or executions so you should probably keep your mouth shut about what you don't know. If for example when a prisoner is being executed he survives the first attempt, they attempt again immediately. With electrocution the prisioner is zapped once, then checked, if need be they will be zapped all night untill they die. With a firing squad if by chance a guy survives 5 shots into the chest they would shoot him again. NO ONE survives execution. Grow some common sense and realize when the state is killing someone insurance isn't really a concern for the guy that is legally going to die regardless of how many times they have to shoot him.

Zrom99

Your OWN link explains that beheading was never officially used up to 1878 when it was taken off the books as a method of execution and in fact says most executions were by firing squad with a few hangings.

 

[Zrom999]

Rahvi

I never stated that beheading was used... I stated that it was an option. Read before you b*tch and moan.

 

[Dari]

Originally posted by: rahvin
Utah has 2 official forms of execution, leathal injection and firing squad. Not sure how long ago, but anywhere up to about 5 years ago there was an execution by firing squad in Utah. Anyone that willingly chooses firing squad over lethal injection has no claim.

Originally posted by: Dari
do you know how many people have been shot in the head and lived? the thing is, if they live, that is cruel and unusual punishment. and the state will end up paying the insurance fee, which can go into the millions of dollar. if he lives, the irony will be that they would HAVE to save his life. and he could sue for the state not killing him right.

You know very very little about the law or executions so you should probably keep your mouth shut about what you don't know. If for example when a prisoner is being executed he survives the first attempt, they attempt again immediately. With electrocution the prisioner is zapped once, then checked, if need be they will be zapped all night untill they die. With a firing squad if by chance a guy survives 5 shots into the chest they would shoot him again. NO ONE survives execution. Grow some common sense and realize when the state is killing someone insurance isn't really a concern for the guy that is legally going to die regardless of how many times they have to shoot him.

Zrom99

Your OWN link explains that beheading was never officially used up to 1878 when it was taken off the books as a method of execution and in fact says most executions were by firing squad with a few hangings.

you sound like you have a huge chip on your shoulder. don't blame me, I didn't do that to your face.

 

[RossMAN]

I didn't read the entire thread but how many firing squad members are there, how many shots does each one fire and where do they aim for?

Seems like an awfully gruesome way to die.