Execution by Firing Squad? What’s going on at South Carolina?

South Carolina announced they will carry out executions by firing squad.

In the beginning, it sounded like a joke. However, South Carolina’s Department of Corrections confirmed that it’s a fact.

The statement published by the South Carolina’s Department of Corrections read:

“The S.C. Department of Corrections informed S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson today that the department is now able to carry out an execution by firing squad as required by law under S.C. Code 24-3-530.”

“The legislation, which became law on May 14, 2021, makes the electric chair the state’s primary means of execution while giving inmates the option of choosing death by firing squad or lethal injection if those methods are available.”

The reason why South Carolina is implementing 1940s execution means is that the state was unable to obtain lethal drugs.

South Carolina joins Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Utah to have firing squad executions.

What if I want to die like a war hostage?

Reports establish that the state spent $53,000 to renovate the capital punishment facility at Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia to include enough space for a firing squad and bullet-resistant glass.

According to AP are currently 37 people on South Carolina’s death row.

If any of them wants the firing squad execution, they will not gain well-trained people for it.

“Members of the firing squad are volunteer SCDC employees.” Those employees should “must meet certain qualifications.”

So, if you have a gun-freak cousin working at the South Carolina’s Department of Corrections, he probably will shoot people on death row.

Step by Step

The S.C. Department of Corrections statement says that there will be Three firing squad members. Nevertheless,

-Three firing squad members will be behind the wall, with rifles facing the inmate through the opening. All three rifles will be loaded with live ammunition.

-The witnesses will see the right-side profile of the inmate. The inmate will not face the witness room directly as the electric chair -another XX Century execution method-.

-The inmate will wear a prison-issued uniform and be escorted into the chamber and will be given the opportunity to make the last statement.

-The inmate will be strapped into the chair, and a hood will be placed over his head.

– A small aim point will be placed over his heart by a member of the execution team.

-After the warden reads the execution order, the team will fire.

-Then, a doctor will examine the inmate. After the inmate is declared dead, the curtain will be drawn and witnesses escorted out.