Firing Squad Still an Option for Utah Convicted Murderer

photo: harryprayiv

Since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976 the state of Utah has executed six prisoners. All six were given the choice of execution by firing squad, only two of which chose this method. In March of 2004 Utah banned execution by firing squad. However, any inmates already sentenced to death that had requested execution by firing squad could still be legally executed by firing squad. Although there is no official protocol for execution by firing squad in Utah it is commonly believed that five correctional officers will participate, each aiming at the inmates torso. Some of the officers will have blanks and some will have live ammunition, to disguise the actual person who committed the act. (Death Penalty Information Center)

Ronnie Lee Gardner, an inmate on death row in Utah, was sentenced to die in 1985 after being convicted of capital murder. Gardner was grandfathered into the former law allowing prisoners to choose if they would prefer execution by firing squad.  On April 12, 2010 Gardner will go before a district judge and will choose how he will die. Gardner had previously requested death by lethal injection but he still has the right to choose death by firing squad. According to the Desert News Gardener stated in 1996, “I like the firing squad. It’s so much easier – and there’s no mistakes” (Morgan, Emiley Utah Death Row Inmate Could Die by Firing Squad)

Tags: Constitutional Rights, death penalty, firing squad, utah, Utah Law