Idaho lawmakers are advancing a bill to make firing squads the primary method of execution, potentially impacting high-profile cases like Bryan Kohberger’s.
You don’t want to be convicted of a serious crime in Idaho…
At a Glance
- Idaho House Bill 37 proposes firing squad as main execution method
- Bill passed committee, heads to House floor
- Proposal coincides with Bryan Kohberger murder trial
- Supporters claim firing squad more humane than lethal injection
- If passed, Idaho would be first state with firing squad as primary method
Idaho’s Legislative Push for Firing Squad Executions
Idaho lawmakers have taken a significant step towards changing the state’s primary method of execution. House Bill 37, which proposes making firing squads the main method for carrying out death sentences, has advanced through the Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee and is now headed to the Idaho House floor for further consideration.
The bill’s sponsor, Representative Bruce Skaug, argued that the firing squad is a more reliable and humane alternative to lethal injection.
“I, along with many others, believe the firing squad is more certain, has less appellate issues, and is more humane than other forms of execution,” Skaug stated.
Idaho murders case: Bryan Kohberger’s likelihood of firing squad execution if convicted increases https://t.co/JUG8d2hBaT
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This legislative move comes as Idaho prepares for the trial of Bryan Kohberger, charged with the murders of four University of Idaho students. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Kohberger, who faces charges of first-degree murder and felony burglary. The timing of this bill has drawn attention to the potential consequences for high-profile cases like Kohberger’s, should it become law.
“At first when you hear firing squad, if you’re not familiar with the history, you think ‘well that sounds barbaric’ is what I’ve heard from some,” Rep. Skaug also said.
Kohberger’s trial is scheduled for later this year, and he has entered not guilty pleas through a judge at his arraignment. The proposed change in execution method could potentially apply to his case if he is convicted and sentenced to death, although the legal process would likely take years to reach that stage.
Currently, lethal injection is the primary execution method in Idaho, with nine people currently on death row. The proposed bill suggests a “mechanized” and automated firing squad as an alternative, citing difficulties with obtaining lethal injection drugs and concerns about the reliability of the current method.
If passed, Idaho would join a small group of states that allow firing squads, including Utah, South Carolina, Oklahoma, and Mississippi. However, it would be the first to adopt it as the primary method of execution. The bill must pass both the Idaho House and Senate and avoid a governor’s veto to become law.
Supporters of the bill argue that the firing squad is a quicker and more certain method of execution, potentially providing swifter justice for victims and their families. However, the proposal has faced opposition, with some lawmakers, like Senator Dan Foreman, calling the method cruel and inhumane.
Here’s a big question to ponder: should ethics even come into this when we’re talking about murderers?
