Firing Squad: First U.S. Use Since 2010
- The use of the firing squad for capital punishment has resurfaced in the united States, marking a controversial moment in the ongoing debate over death penalty practices.
- In 2025, a meaningful event took place: the first execution by firing squad since 2010.
- This event marks the sixth execution in the United States in 2025.
Execution by Firing Squad: A Controversial Return in the US
Table of Contents
The use of the firing squad for capital punishment has resurfaced in the united States, marking a controversial moment in the ongoing debate over death penalty practices. This advancement occurs amidst a backdrop of evolving methods and ethical concerns surrounding executions.
First Firing Squad Execution As 2010
In 2025, a meaningful event took place: the first execution by firing squad since 2010. The execution occurred in South Carolina. According to chrysti Shain, the spokesperson for the South Carolina Department of Corrections, « L’exécution a été réalisée à 18 h 05 (23 h 05 GMT) par un peloton d’exécution de trois personnes et il a été déclaré mort par un médecin à 18 h 08 (23 h 08 GMT). »
This event marks the sixth execution in the United States in 2025. The others were carried out by lethal injection, except for one instance of execution by nitrogen inhalation in Alabama. The nitrogen inhalation method has faced severe criticism, with some experts from the UN even comparing it to a form of « torture. »
Louisiana to Resume Executions
Adding to the shifting landscape of capital punishment, Louisiana is set to resume executions after a 15-year hiatus. The state plans to employ nitrogen inhalation on March 18.
The Condemned’s Choice
Brad Sigmon’s case brought the method of execution into sharp focus. South Carolina law designates the electric chair as the default method of execution. However, it allows the condemned to choose between death by firing squad or lethal injection.
Before Sigmon, the three individuals executed in South Carolina since september had all opted for lethal injection. However, Sigmon chose the firing squad, a decision his lawyers attributed to desperation.
« La mort de Brad a été horrible et violente.Il a choisi le peloton d’exécution en sachant que trois balles briseraient ses os et détruiraient son coeur. »
Gerald King, Brad Sigmon’s Lawyer
King further explained, « Mais c’était le seul choix qu’il avait, après que les trois exécutions dans l’Etat par injection létale ont fait subir des agonies prolongées et potentiellement proches de la torture à des hommes qu’il aimait comme des frères.»
The last firing squad execution in the U.S. before this was in Utah in 2010.
Details of the Execution
Journalists who witnessed the execution described the scene. Brad Sigmon was bound to a chair, hands and feet restrained, with a hood over his head. A target was affixed to his chest.
« Cela s’est passé très vite. J’ai vu du sang gicler lorsque les balles sont entrées dans son corps »
Unnamed Journalist
Sigmon’s final words were shared by his lawyer, Gerald King: « Je veux que ma dernière déclaration soit une déclaration d’amour et un appel à mes coreligionnaires chrétiens pour nous aider à mettre fin à la peine de mort. »
The Broader Context of Capital Punishment
The resurgence of the firing squad occurs amid a complex landscape of capital punishment in the United States. Six executions are scheduled for march alone. Currently, 23 of the 50 states have abolished the death penalty. Furthermore,six states—Arizona,California,Ohio,Oregon,Pennsylvania,and Tennessee—have a moratorium on executions imposed by their governors.
executions in the United States
The Bureau of Justice Statistics’ (BJS) Capital punishment reports present characteristics of persons under sentence of death and persons executed, and summarize the movement of prisoners into and out of death sentence status. In 2022, 18 inmates were executed in the United States.
Key Points:
- Firing squad execution returns after a decade-long absence.
- Controversy surrounds methods like nitrogen inhalation.
- The debate over capital punishment continues across the US.
The Resurgence of Firing Squads in the U.S.: A Q&A
the use of the firing squad for executions has re-emerged in the United States, sparking renewed debate about capital punishment. Here’s a breakdown of key questions and answers surrounding this controversial practice.
Q: Why is the firing squad being used again in the U.S.?
A: The reintroduction of the firing squad is primarily due to challenges in procuring lethal injection drugs and legal challenges to other methods. Some states are seeking choice methods to carry out executions consequently. Brad Sigmon’s case in South Carolina brought the method into focus as it allowed the condemned to choose between death by firing squad or lethal injection,highlighting the difficulties in reliably administering lethal injections.
Q: When was the last firing squad execution in the U.S. before 2025, and where did it take place?
A: The last firing squad execution in the U.S. before Brad Sigmon’s execution in South Carolina in 2025 was in Utah in 2010.
Q: How does a firing squad execution typically work?
A: While details may vary slightly, a firing squad execution generally involves the condemned individual being restrained to a chair with restraints around their torso, arms, and legs and a hood placed over their head. A target is typically placed over their heart. The firing squad usually consists of multiple marksmen, with some potentially using live rounds while others use blanks (though the marksmen don’t know which of which thay’re using). All members of the squad fire together at the target.
Q: What are the legal considerations surrounding execution methods like firing squads and nitrogen inhalation?
A: The legality of execution methods is continually challenged in the courts. Opponents of methods like nitrogen inhalation argue that they constitute cruel and unusual punishment, violating the Eighth Amendment. Some international bodies, like experts from the UN, have criticized nitrogen inhalation as potentially amounting to torture. The condemned inmate can also play a role in this process as States like South Carolina allow the inmate to choose the method of execution.
Q: Aside from firing squads and lethal injection, what other execution methods are being considered or used in the United States?
A: Other execution methods include the electric chair and nitrogen inhalation. The use of nitrogen inhalation, in particular, has drawn critically important controversy and legal challenges.
Q: How many states in the U.S.have abolished the death penalty?
A: As of March 2025, 23 of the 50 states have abolished the death penalty.
Q: What is the overall trend in the use of the death penalty in the United States?
A: The trend is toward a decline in the use of the death penalty. The number of executions has decreased in recent years, and many states have either abolished capital punishment or placed a moratorium on executions. In 2022, 18 inmates were executed in the United States. The resurgence of older methods like the firing squad alongside the introduction of new methods like nitrogen inhalation reflects the ongoing challenges and ethical debates surrounding capital punishment.