Idaho Governor Brad Little officially made history on Wednesday by signing a bill that designates the firing squad as the preferred method of execution for capital punishment in the state. This makes Idaho the only state in the nation to adopt such a measure, set to take effect next year.
The governor’s decision follows the recent execution of Brad Sigmon, a 67-year-old inmate from South Carolina, who was put to death by a firing squad for the brutal murder of his ex-girlfriend’s parents in 2001. This method, which hadn’t been used in the U.S. for 15 years, faced scrutiny as Sigmon was pronounced dead just minutes after the execution.
According to the Idaho Statesman, there are currently nine inmates on death row in Idaho, but the death penalty has not been carried out in the state for over a decade. Last year, the state attempted to execute Thomas Eugene Creech, a long-time death row inmate, but faced problems with the lethal injection method when medical personnel struggled to insert an IV for nearly an hour.
Support for the new law was significant, with more than two-thirds of the Republican-controlled legislature expressing their approval. The bill not only establishes the firing squad as the primary method but also retains lethal injection as an alternative.
Governor Little had previously signed legislation allowing the firing squad as a backup option for executions but emphasized that he preferred lethal injection at that time. With this new bill, the state joins the ranks of others such as Utah, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Mississippi that have legalized firing squad executions.
Rep. Bruce Skaug, the sponsor of the bill, pointed to last year’s failed lethal injection as a reason for the shift towards the firing squad. He believes that ensuring a swift and certain execution is paramount in the justice system.
This development could significantly affect the state’s death row inmates and is particularly relevant in the case of Bryan Kohberger, the suspect in the University of Idaho murders. Prosecutors have indicated they will seek the death penalty if Kohberger is found guilty. His trial is approaching, and he faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder.
As the law comes into effect, it reflects a growing emphasis on efficient and definitive methods of delivering capital punishment in Idaho, underscoring a commitment to upholding justice for victims and their families.
