The state’s execution chamber at the prison complex south of Boise is under construction to accommodate shooting condemned prisoners to death by next summer. A new law that prioritizes a firing squad goes into effect starting July 2026. Lethal injection will remain the backup option.

But the Idaho Department of Correction aims to limit direct participation from correctional officers, agency spokesperson Blake Lopez told the Idaho Statesman.

“We have not yet procured a remote-operated system but are actively exploring available options,” he said by email. “A remote-operated system is preferred, as it would allow executions by firing squad to be carried out with minimal involvement from our staff.”

Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, who sponsored the bill that sets up the state’s transition to a firing squad, told the Idaho Statesman he has concerns that remote-operated firearms could falter the day of an execution. He advocated for the new execution method after Idaho prison officials were unable to execute a prisoner for the very first time, by lethal injection, in 2024.

Archived at https://archive.is/IZLMl

top 17 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] 30 points 1 year ago (8 children)

Tbh I'd much rather a bullet to the head than a botched injection.

But the state executing people is morally reprehensible in the first place.

  • source
  • hideshow 8 child comments
  • [–] 16 points 1 year ago (3 children)

    No you must have missed the last paragraph

    Automated weapons will be executing people. To save on staff.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
  • [–] 19 points 1 year ago (2 children)

    Who says you get one in the head?

    A savage nation. A shithole country. A total no go zone.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago (1 child)

    Who says you get one in the head?

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercy_shot

    A mercy shot is a final shot delivered in an execution. It follows after at least one original shot intended to mortally wound or kill the victim.[1

    https://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/execution/firing-squad/

    Although each firing squad member must fire, one of the shooters usually receives a gun with a blank. This ensures that no one in the group is able to know for sure which of them fired the fatal round. On several occasions, the condemned party has been hit by several bullets and lived. When this happens, a final shooter dispatches the person at close range.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [–] 16 points 1 year ago

    But who says you get one? From your own link:

    The use of the mercy shot is not universal; due to limited compassion for the victims or due to limited available ammunition, some execution victims are left to die of their wounds or are simply buried alive, without a mercy shot.

  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 6 points 1 year ago*

    I'm opposed to the death penalty. There are various reasons why I believe the State should not be allowed to hold that power over people.

    That said, if you are going to have the death penalty as part of your legal system, at least be honest about it. Don't try to put lipstick on a pig by making it appear more civilized and ethical than it is.

    Death penalty by firing squad is at least a very straight-forward and honest way of imposing the death penalty

  • source
  • parent
  • [+] 8 points 1 year ago (1 child)
  • [–] 7 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    just use one of them new school shooting drones. I'm sure it'll be fine.

  • source
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [–] 11 points 1 year ago

    It's things like this that make me glad that our justice system is perfect, and we've never executed an innocent person.

  • source
  • [–] 11 points 1 year ago

    This is the most gut-wrenchingly dystopian thing I've read in a while. I can't believe it's not satire.

  • source
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    Jesus America… have you guys considered a giant meat grinder? Or putting them on a train track? Giant saw maybe? U S A. U S A.

  • source
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [–] 1 point 1 year ago

    Neat. I wonder if it's cheaper or less agonizing for the victim.

  • source