Ronnie Lee Gardner Executed by Firing Squad in Utah

[Foxrac]

Seems Iowa doesn't allow death penalty because it's not in the list.

Yup but anyone who is convicted for murder or treason by federal court and they could sentence to lethal injection in other state like IL.

 

[sequoias]

Yup but anyone who is convicted for murder or treason by federal court and they could sentence to lethal injection in other state like IL.

Yeah, depends on the state or federal level of the system. I think it's cheaper to pay a criminal for lifetime prision than putting them to sleep. IT's waste of $$$ to fight in court which can end up more than just rotting in jail.

 

[Foxrac]

Yeah, depends on the state or federal level of the system. I think it's cheaper to pay a criminal for lifetime prision than putting them to sleep. IT's waste of $$$ to fight in court which can end up more than just rotting in jail.

Yup, I can imagine that and CA has low number of executed at 13 with 600 inmates are on line for execution, that much less than Alabama for just nearly 37 million since number of executed in Alabama was 45 and 208 inmates are on line for execution. Texas is far #1 for most execution in the US.

I wouldn't surprise if CA abolishes the death penalty and replace with life in prison to save their state money due CA has limit property tax because of Prop 13. I think that CA need relax the drug laws and end of drug wars that will save state money, along demand on federal to take care of US-MEX border.

 

[Reba]

No, one is loaded with a live round. That way none of the executioners know who took the life-ending shot.

Only one is a "blank". One method is to fill it with wax which is a more realistic duplication of the live recoil.

The shooters are anonymous police marksmen who volunteer for the assignment. They practice several times before the actual execution.

Interesting interview with previous executioners:

Matthewman's Murder Blog: DEATH BY FIRING SQUAD IN UTAH: STEP BY STEP PROCEDURE EXPLAINED BY PREVIOUS FIRING SQUAD MEMBERS

 

[Tousi]

Hmmm, I wonder why that is. Seems to me there would be less potential problems with emotions if 4 were blanks and one live round.

I know you are just showing what the facts are. Maybe what I thought earlier what the practice was the practice years ago. I should have looked it up. Thanks

 

[shel90]

Wow! I thought firing squads were no longer in existence in this country!

 

[diehardbiker]

Well, this leaves 9 death row inmates that can choose firing squad, anyone convicted and put in death row for crimes after 2004 will be automatically opt for lethal injection.

That is called "Grandfathered law" which means those who in days before the law has changed will follow the old law.

Wow! I thought firing squads were no longer in existence in this country!

 

[Reba]

Hmmm, I wonder why that is. Seems to me there would be less potential problems with emotions if 4 were blanks and one live round.

I know you are just showing what the facts are. Maybe what I thought earlier what the practice was the practice years ago. I should have looked it up. Thanks

I think they want to be sure the guy dies, so the more rounds striking him, the quicker and more sure the death.

 

[Tousi]

I think they want to be sure the guy dies, so the more rounds striking him, the quicker and more sure the death.

Shooting at a patch over the heart under ideal lighting conditions from a mere 17 feet with a 30-30 cal?

 

[Reba]

Shooting at a patch over the heart under ideal lighting conditions from a mere 17 feet with a 30-30 cal?

I know but this is truly a case of "overkill." No one in the system wants to take the chance of a guy slowly struggling and dying in front of witnesses because someone's gun misfired, or someone sneezed when pulling the trigger.

I think it is also part tradition, from previous century firing squads when conditions weren't so ideal, and shooters not so accurate (such as short notice field executions). Remember, during previous centuries, there were no long appeal processes.