firing squad

[marcinstl]

Missouri bill would allow execution using firing squad

Currently, the state puts inmates to death through injection of a lethal drug, although the current law also allows for gas — the method by which 39 people were executed from 1938 to 1965.
The House bill adds the option of firing squad executions consisting of five law enforcement officers chosen by the state corrections director.
Bill sponsor Rep. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, said adding a firing squad option would offer the state another way to carry out executions in light of pharmaceutical companies’ halting sale of drugs for executions."

[leftysixty]

Missouri bill would allow execution using firing squad


Currently, the state puts inmates to death through injection of a lethal drug, although the current law also allows for gas — the method by which 39 people were executed from 1938 to 1965.
The House bill adds the option of firing squad executions consisting of five law enforcement officers chosen by the state corrections director.
Bill sponsor Rep. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, said adding a firing squad option would offer the state another way to carry out executions in light of pharmaceutical companies’ halting sale of drugs for executions."

Will they at least furnish the bullets????

[Bawanna]

UN will probably make them use full metal jacket per the Geneva Convention.

I do support the idea though. The officers of course should be voluntary, some I'm sure wouldn't enjoy shooting somebody with hands tied behind their back, hood or no hood.

I of course am not adverse to the proposition myself. I prefer no hood, like to see what I'm shootin.

[rickbsgu]

Or hanging, guillotine, e-chair - whatever's on the menu. Prisoner's choice. Same with hood/no hood. Maybe they could have videos at their disposal of prior executions to help them decide.

if I volunteered for firing squad duty, I'm not sure what that would say about me. Better drawn from a pool, like jury duty.

If selected or asked, I would serve.

I seem to recall that, when it was implemented, it was the practice (in civilized countries, anyway) to load one rifle with a blank, at random. That way, none of the participants knows for sure that they contributed to the killing salvo.

if implemented, participants should show up a week before for qualification/training. There should be strong penalties for delayed or early shots when on the actual firing line.

And, yeah, the state should provide properly maintained rifles and ammo of appropriate caliber and configuration to insure the likelihood of a quick and sure end.

[Alfonse]

And, yeah, the state should provide properly maintained rifles and ammo of appropriate caliber and configuration to insure the likelihood of a quick and sure end.

That got me thinking of what that would be. The first thought of a caliber that would insure "quick and sure" would be 12 gauge buckshot, number 1 or 00. I guess they could have a lineup of 870s. I hate it when my mind goes visual on sentences like this.

[muggsy]

I don't understand the need for five riflemen. One should be plenty if he's any damn good.

[AJBert]

Pretty sure most firing squads in the past used a .30 caliber, at least in the military they did. LEO's tend to follow what the military uses in most situations when it comes to caliber.

[knkali]

UN will probably make them use full metal jacket per the Geneva Convention.

I do support the idea though. The officers of course should be voluntary, some I'm sure wouldn't enjoy shooting somebody with hands tied behind their back, hood or no hood.

I of course am not adverse to the proposition myself. I prefer no hood, like to see what I'm shootin.

is the hood on you or the condemned? Not sure where you are coming from. Just ask'n.

[rickbsgu]

That got me thinking of what that would be. The first thought of a caliber that would insure "quick and sure" would be 12 gauge buckshot, number 1 or 00. I guess they could have a lineup of 870s. I hate it when my mind goes visual on sentences like this.

Guess that would do the job, or slugs, for that matter. Laser sights on the shotguns should assist placement. I was thinking along the lines of a single shot, laser-sighted carbine, pistol caliber- 45 cap hollow points. Rifle bullets would never expand under these circumstances & just punch holes. Carbine length barrel would provide a bit more energy, and contribute to accuracy.

Since the express intent is to kill, I don't think the Geneva convention applies.


Per usual, it's easy to broad-brush an idea, but things get a bit thicker when you start thinking about the details of implementation.

Here's a question: Assuming the perp is in for capital murder (likely, since they're on death row), should relatives of the victims be excluded from duty, voluntary or otherwise?

I would say most certainly... The intent is to serve justice - there shouldn't be even the possibility of interpreting the action as vengeance.

[marcinstl]

12ga. slugs are what, a buck a piece? this should be just like a jury-- randomly chosen group of peers.

[Longitude Zero]

They claim one of the weapons is empty. I would shoot the condemned in the face to know for sure.

[getsome]

You have been promoted to Colonel LZ

[Bawanna]

What if everybody shoots the condemned in the face? How would we know, ya know, not that I'm any kind of expert on face shootin and such.

[Longitude Zero]

You have been promoted to Colonel LZ

Thanks for the Battlefield Promotion getsome.

[Longitude Zero]

What if everybody shoots the condemned in the face? How would we know, ya know, not that I'm any kind of expert on face shootin and such.

Or shoot them in the gonads.