The firing squad, discontinued in Utah in 2004, would return as a method of execution under a bill (HB11) which has passed Utah's House of Representatives. The sponsor, Rep. Paul Ray R-Clearfield, says (according to the Associated Press) that "a team of trained marksmen is faster and more humane than the drawn-out deaths that have occurred in botched lethal injections." NPR reports that manufacturers of the drugs used in lethal injection executions, under increasing pressure from critics of the practice, have ceased making the toxic chemicals. James Clark writing on Amnesty International USA's "Human Rights Now" blog says this bill makes Utah appear willing to do just about anything to continue executions.
Proponents of the death penalty argue that it is necessary as a full measure of justice and as a strong deterrent. We'll examine this issueon Tuesday's AU. Our guests will include Anna Brower, Public Policy Advocate with ACLU Utah; and House Minority Leader Rep. Brian King, D-Salt Lake City; and Rep. Stephen Handy, R-Layton. What do you think? Do you support the death penalty in Utah? And what do you think about the potential return of the firing squad?