Execution by firing squad was last seen in Utah in 2010 in the case of Ronnie Lee Gardner. Critics referred to the case as gruesome relic of Utah’s Wild West past. Since then, Utah has deferred to lethal injection.
Now, it seems, that may be changing.
Friday morning, the Utah House of Representatives passed a proposal to bring back the firing squad as an option to inmates on death row. Initially, the House voted 35-35, but after missing lawmakers were summoned and one lawmaker switched, the measure passed 39-34.
Representative Edward Redd of Logan said this summoning is called a “Call of the House.”
“We tied, but then there were a lot of representatives that didn’t want to vote on it,” Redd said, with a laugh. “And so they kind of wandered off the floor—made themselves unavailable to vote.”
Redd said that in a “Call of the House,” the Capitol is searched for representatives, who are then brought onto the floor to vote.
The bill from Representative Paul Ray would call for a firing squad if Utah cannot get lethal injection drugs 30 days before an execution.
Representative Stewart Barlow of Fruit Heights voted against the bill.
“I think it’s a barbaric way to terminate a person’s life,” Barlow said. “I don’t agree with the argument that it’s the most humane way. At least every person that I’ve known that’s been shot, they all say it hurts a lot. I think it sends a bad image for Utah.”
UPR spoke with Senator David Hinkins, who will sponsor the bill in the Senate. Hinkins admits he does not know a lot about the bill.
“I didn’t know it even passed yet,” Hinkins said. “I just found out I was the sponsor, actually. I don’t know, I think firing squad’s legal in a lot of states, isn’t it? I’d have to check and see. It’s just another way to die, you know? I don’t know, I guess.”
Redd disagrees with Hinkins on this point.
“There are lots of ways that people die without going through misery,” he said. “I mean, if you shoot somebody in the chest, they don’t just die suddenly. It may be 15 or 20 or 30 seconds before they actually pass out, depending on exactly where the bullets go, and where it hits the heart, and all that kind of stuff. During that time, I would imagine they’re in a lot of pain.
Representatives Redd and Barlow said they both hope the bill does not pass in the Senate, which is also controlled by the GOP.
Governor Gary Herbert has not revealed if he will sign the bill.