Death Penalty In The US: Execution By Firing Squad Returns To South Carolina

South Carolina will now begin offering firing-squad executions, following the law passed last year that included the additional method due to the state’s struggle to obtain lethal injection drugs for death row inmates.

The firing squad executions will begin after the South Carolina Supreme Court officially approves the details involving the procedure.

The state has spent about $53,000 to renovate a capital punishment facility. The death chamber for the firing squad execution now consists of a metal chair in the corner of the room with restraints.

The chair is situated 15 feet away from a wall with a rectangular opening where three shooters will place their weapons and fire. The three shooters will be volunteers from the Corrections Department.

At the time of execution, each shooter will have a loaded rifle with live ammunition that will be aimed at the inmate’s heart. The inmate will be seated in the chair with a hood placed over their head and will be given the chance to make a final statement.

Aside from South Carolina, ​​Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Utah are the only other states that allow firing squads as an execution method.

Although South Carolina’s main method of execution is the electric chair, inmates will now be given the additional option of death by lethal injection or firing squad if the execution process is available.

The addition of the firing squad method comes after the state underwent a 10-year stall of executions because it was unable to procure the drugs necessary for lethal injection.

Last year, the high court paused the executions of Brad Sigmon and Freddie Owens so the inmates could also have the option of choosing between the firing squad or the electric chair.

The last lethal injection that took place in South Carolina was in 2011, and its stock of legal injection drugs expired two years later.

There are reportedly 37 inmates on South Carolina’s death row.